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Our Redmond issue dives into the City’s water supply to understand whether it can support the rapid pace of growth. Reporter Clayton Franke explains the limitations and conservation efforts to make it last. Plus, drivers in Redmond will be under the watchful eye of red-light cameras starting this week. In the great outdoors, we talk with local birders about their favorite spots in the Redmond area to view the spring migration. Peter Madsen shares his experience riding the Cline Butte trails. A new store is about to open in Redmond that’s all about witchcraft. And Jared Rasic has one of the best Chinese meals of his life in Redmond. —Managing Editor Nic Moye
LIGHTMETER:
PRESENTED BY HARVEST MOON WOODWORKS
@vitalityinfocus
Community members show photos of flowers blooming like bitterroot, lupine and larkspur. We want to share your photo! Email info@bendsource.com or tag @sourceweekly on Instagram for a chance to be featured.
HARVESTMOONWOODWORKS.C CUSTOM. CABINE
SUBSTANCE OVER STRATEGY
Politics often attract people who are more interested in winning rather than governing. Unfortunately, this is where the games begin. Instead of focusing on solutions some tend to frame issues in ways that divide, exaggerate and distract. They tend to shift positions depending on the audience, sometimes trade favors behind closed doors, or use procedural tactics to stall progress while appearing cooperative in public. These tactics are baked into the system. It has eroded trust because it prioritizes optics and leverage over honesty and positive outcomes.
In order to break this cycle it will require more transparency, accountability and a willingness from both leaders and voters to reward Substance Over Strategy. The time and opportunity is now. Let’s break that divisive cycle and ensure that Honesty, Integrity and Character are the Foundation that Deschutes County stands for.
—Clifford B. Evelyn
MORGAN SCHMIDT FOR COUNTY COMMISSIONER
Let’s elect Morgan Schmidt for Position 5 of the Deschutes County board of commissioners. Morgan has proven her leadership in many settings. Now she is the executive director for the Red Cross of Central and Eastern Oregon for disaster relief. This means the Red Cross team will travel to locations where homes have been damaged by fire so they can provide assistance for those impacted by loss due to a fire. The Deschutes County Plan for disaster response includes plans for responding to fires as well as other natural hazards. This includes encouraging building fire resistant structures. With this being a part of the county plan there is a reason to believe Morgan Schmidt will be ready to understand first steps to move forward with appropriate responses.
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Morgan’s experience is also important in understanding functions of the Deschutes County Health Department. The health department offers services at more than 40 locations in Deschutes County. The financial investment for this year is near $93,000,000 with financing from federal, state and county. Each year the budget committee, composed of all commissioners plus at least three community members, conducts meetings to hear all requests for an annual budget. With Morgan’s administrative experience we can expect she has a base of understanding when the commission adopts financial investments for all county departments. Let’s elect Morgan Schmidt, a candidate with wisdom and experience needed to support programs of Deschutes County.
—Gloria Olson
ELECTED OFFICIALS REPRESENT CONSTITUENTS
In the April 16 edition of The Source Weekly, Lauren Connally was quoted saying, “I’m very clear with everyone: I’m going to be me, I’m going to speak as me, and I’m going to act as me.”
It’s a sad reality of our times that virtually all political candidates seem to have lost sight of the fact that, above all, our government is a government of representatives. Our elected representatives, from the lowest local position to the highest office in the White House, have a duty to represent their constituents. They are not elected to represent their personal agenda, their donors, or their political party. Their duty extends even to all their constituents, including those who may have voted for a different candidate
As our midterm elections approach, this constituent is still looking for any candidate that will publicly commit to represent the will of the majority of his or her constituents, even when that might differ from their personal or political agenda.
So I ask all of the current candidates: Are any of you ready to publicly commit to first and above all, represent the will of the majority of your constituents?
Your constituents will be watching and hopefully voting accordingly.
—John Larson
JENNIFER LETZ FOR DESCHUTES COUNTY COMMISSIONER SEAT #5
The Bend Source’s endorsement for County Commissioner Seat #5 misses what Deschutes County voters have consistently asked for. This isn’t a moment for party politics. With the expansion of the County Commission, it’s a time for experience and leadership that listens to every corner of our community.
Sisters Mayor Jennifer Letz offers exactly that. With more than five years of service on the Sisters City Council and as Mayor, she has built a track record grounded in practical solutions and strong partnerships. Her work on housing, wildfire mitigation, water and community health reflects a people-first approach focused on results rather than rhetoric.
Letz’s leadership style stands out for its emphasis on getting things done. Voters have an opportunity to bring in a leader who understands local challenges and has already demonstrated the ability to address them effectively. While the city of Sisters quickly grows and evolves, she has been doing the work listening to diverse voices and making it a stronger, more resilient community.
As an unaffiliated candidate, Jennifer Letz won’t appear on party mailers or be boosted by paid political campaigns.
Instead, her record speaks for itself. Jennifer Letz represents that independence, along with the experience and commitment needed to serve everyone across Deschutes County well.
—Becca Burda
A CAUTIONARY TALE: RETURN BALLOTS TO OFFICIAL DROP BOXES
If you want your voice to be heard on May 19th, put your ballot in an Official Ballot Drop Box, not the U.S. Mail. In the November 2024 general election I naively placed my ballot in the U.S. Mail at the Bend post office more than a week before Election Day. Several weeks later, I received a small postcard informing me that my ballot was not counted. You see, a ballot returned by mail must be not only postmarked by Election Day, but also received by the County Clerk within 7 days of Election Day. This is where things went awry for me in November of 2024 and can for you this election cycle. It turns out that mail dropped in central Oregon is routed through either a Portland or Eugene processing center for sorting — even if the destination address is in central Oregon. This takes time — apparently over a week in my case — and can result in disenfranchising you as a voter — which it did me! Don’t let this happen to you!
This is a very important election. For the first time in the history or our county, we will be expanding the Board of Commissioners from three to five and voting for four of the five positions. (Yes, all of us get to vote for all four commissioner positions!). We also
have the ability to elect those commissioners NOW! If any commissioner candidate gets more than 50% of the vote in their race, they win the seat. No waiting until November. So, make sure your vote counts. Put it in an Official Ballot Drop Box, the locations of which can be found at www.deschutes.org/clerk/page/ ballot-drop-box-locations.
—Sheila Kelley
FOR GOVERNOR?
Oregon has many serious problems - inadequate budget, substandard educational system, failing infrastructure, climate change, and more. But we have a candidate for governor running TV ads focused on trans girls in sports. We need leaders who will bring us together not divide us; a leader who will address the real issues, not dog whistles.
—James Scott
TWO DOWN, ONE TO GO
With the demise of Lori Chavez DeRemer we’ve taken an important step in getting rid of the toxic influence of MAGA Republicans in Central Oregon. An important next thing has already begun, with Patti Adair stepping away from the County Commission to pursue a seat in Congress, which she is sure to lose. Now we have only one more to go — getting Cliff Benz out of the House. That will take a while, but we’ve got to keep trying.
—Lou Capozzi
VOTE EARLY
Listen up, you beautiful, flannel-clad Bendites! I’m smelling a heavy scent in the air, and for once, it isn’t a $12 triple-hopped IPA or a neighboring forest fire. It’s the sweet, dull thud of Apathy. The sound of a deflating yoga ball leaking over steeped kombucha. People around me are whispering that voting is a dead end street, especially in our high-desert bubble where the “salmon of Capistrano” flock instinctively toward the nearest trailhead in a $100,000 Sprinter van. But here’s the cosmic joke: If voting were actually useless, our shadowy overlords wouldn’t be sweating through their tailored suits trying to build a wall of bureaucracy around the ballot box. Their desperation is your fivestar review. The ballot is the only legal sledgehammer we have left to smash the status quo without getting a face full of pepper spray.
If you don’t like the flavor of the current regime, which tastes suspiciously like ponderosa ash and stale disappointment, grab your psychedelic pen and get to work! Stake your claim and set the damn example. When you drop that ballot, you aren’t just participating, you’re a revolutionary leading the herd out of the fog of “whatever.” This election is about local stakes, especially in the expanded County Commissioners race. This isn’t a polite opening act at our local amphitheater, it’s the main, chaotic event where we get to scream “ENCORE!” or “GET OFF THE STAGE!”
Stop letting manufactured malaise harsh your vibe. Don’t abandon a civic right people literally have died for because you’re too busy doom scrolling. Voting is your VIP pass to the only riot that’s actually legal. Inject some beautiful chaos back into the system. Vote early, set the expectation for the skeptics, and for the love of all that is holy, don’t forget to sign the envelope!
—Barry Wicks
ELECT AMY SABBADINI
The Source Weekly has made a mistake by not endorsing Amy Sabbadini for Deschutes County Commissioner, Position 3. Her occupational background, as summarized in the opening paragraph about her in the Voters’ Pamphlet, immediately makes her the most qualified person for County Commissioner. Add to that her college degrees: Master of Education, and Bachelor of Arts in ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES. What more could a voter ask for? But Amy does offer much more; just read the numerous Letters to the Editor about Amy in The Source during the past several weeks. We are fortunate that Amy has worked hard for the opportunity to serve as Deschutes County Commissioner, and I believe she deserves everyones’ votes.
—Richard Tomera
SUPPORT FOR AMANDA PAGE
Amanda Page is the most progressive and independent candidate running for Position 3 on the Deschutes County Commission. She has grassroots support as well as endorsements from many unions and organizations that represent our multiracial working class
Her support extends well beyond elected officials and includes several BIPOC organizations—including the Tribal Democracy Project, which is dedicated to elevating indigenous voices in government.
Page has been criticized by some leaders of the Deschutes Democrats for centering her indigenous spirit in her campaign. Her chief opponent’s campaign manager has sought to discredit the Tribal Democracy Project in divisive social media posts.
Amanda Page has proven to be a unifying force on the Redmond School Board. As a County Commissioner she will work to unite people rather than divide them by race or any other measure. Amanda Page will represent and protect all of the people and all of the land.
—Michael Funke
OPINION
The Bend Central District Needs Momentum and A Unified Vision
If you’ve been paying attention to Bend politics and local business matters, then you probably heard about the promise of the Bend Central District. Some envision it as a second downtown — a place to allow the city to grow and a hip business district to proliferate — with a new city hall to boot. But the reality has been slow to materialize. The genesis for the redevelopment of the Bend Central District is now well over a decade old. While some projects have moved forward, such as street improvements and the construction of a new food cart pod and bar near the east entrance to the planned Hawthorne pedestrian bridge, for the most part, the dream of the BCD continues to grow slowly.
In hopes of adding more economic energy to the area — and hiring an executive director to orchestrate it all — some local business owners and the Bend Central District Business Association worked with the City of Bend to propose a new business fee for the area. The idea is by having an executive director — a job that also exists for businesses in the downtown area — this person can be the one to speed things up.
However, during a recent Bend City Council meeting, in which councilors voted 4-2 to move the fee proposal forward, a group of business owners in the area expressed opposition. Some say the addition of yet another Council-mandated fee, on top of the transportation fee recently levied upon Bend residents and business owners, will send more businesses into the red. What’s more, it may drive them out of the area altogether. The group in opposition to the fee needs one-third of the BCD businesses to express opposition to the fee, and the proposal will die, according to recent Source reporting. It looks like they may have the numbers.
The Bend Central District has long
suffered an identity problem. Many believe in the promise of the area, but most don’t want to be the first to risk starting a project and failing while waiting for more improvements or the arrival of the long-awaited bridge. Adding fees onto the backs of local business owners who have yet to see the fruits of a newly developed area is not well timed and appears to be exacerbating the lack of a cohesive vision for the area. Certain businesses simply don’t fit the mold that some leaders have for the area. The reality of creating a district that is appealing for mixed use retail and housing creates displacement. The vote is still out on whether this is something the majority — or in this case, the one-third minority, are in favor of and willing to undertake.
While the notion of a fee for beautification and organization seems well-meaning, timing is everything. Rather than pushing forward on what is already shaping up to be an unpopular policy, perhaps the City should take a pause and outline its own overarching plans for the area. Tell the BCD business owners what the City plans to do with the area around the former Rainbow Motel, which it owns and runs as a homeless shelter. Give a general timeline for the property’s transition to a Bend City Hall. Perhaps if local property owners had some notion of a timeline for that project, a better vision would come into view and BCD landowners and tenants would feel more comfortable launching their own projects. With that kind of momentum, perhaps it would be time for a new, plucky executive director for the BCD to come forward and talk about marketing and flower baskets.
The City has done real work on 2nd Street and is now beginning the Franklin underpass renovation, for which it deserves a great deal of credit. If this EID vote is going to move forward, those champions of a mixed-use vision for the District need to start pressing the flesh. An Economic Improvement District and added fees for the BCD are a big ask. They deserve a big-ask marketing campaign that everyone in the district can get behind and feel good about. Otherwise, a failed EID will fracture the fragile sense of self that the BCD is just starting to enjoy.
Detours Abound
Three road projects are blocking busy roads in Bend. The first phase of Franklin Avenue improvements begin overnight 7pm-7am starting Monday, May 18. There will be lane closures and delays with flaggers, but traffic will remain open in both directions. More extensive street rebuilding begins in late June with one-way lane closures on Franklin from Third to Fourth Street.
Meanwhile, work on a new single lane roundabout at Butler Market and Wells Acres Road began May 11, closing westbound traffic on Butler Market as well as access to Wells Acres in that area. The closures are expected to be in place for 95 days. Butler Market is still open for eastbound traffic. Wilson Avenue is also closed between SE Centennial and Ninth Streets for rail, roadway and sidewalk infrastructure installation. That closure is expected to continue until early July.
Wildfire Contained
The Pine Mountain Fire, burning east of Bend, is 100% contained as of Tuesday, May 12, at 2,589 acres. It was sparked May 7 by multiple spot fires outside the area of a controlled burn. Officials with Central Oregon Fire Info are warning visitors and recreators to use caution when near a burned area due to hazards such as snags, debris from falling rocks, erosion and ash pits or holes from burned stumps.
The Deschutes Public Library’s New Central Library is Nigh
Opened May 11, the 100,000-square-foot structure delights
By Peter Madsen
As natural light pours down through the airy lobby of the Deschutes Public Library’s new Central Library, off SE 27th Street, newcomers’ first reactions will likely just be: Wow.
Passing through the front entrance, one gazes upward toward a gymnasium-tall ceiling from which a largescale art installation, titled “Juniper,” is suspended by 1,440 cables. Weighing about the same as a compact SUV, the Alaskan yellow cedar sculpture evokes, say, the rib cage of a humpback whale. Yet looking closer, especially while climbing the nearby central stairway, “Juniper,” created by John Grade, reveals its inspiration: the undulations of an alpine landscape. Those “ribs” create a topographical effect while evoking the concentric rings of the titular, native conifer. The sculpture is made with nearly 9,000 wood pieces, joined with pegs. A closer look rewards with glaciers, made of glass, resting on the piece’s upper boughs, refracting sunlight.
40
—The number of feet the aquifer under Redmond has dropped since the 1990s.
Open to the public on May 11 at 9 am, the 100,000-square-foot Bend Central Library is situated on Bend’s east side, near the intersection of SE Reed Market and 27th Street. A $195 million bond made the new building a reality, with construction costs ringing in at $135 million. Construction began May 2024. The rest of the bond helped remodel the La Pine, Sisters, Sunriver and Downtown Bend libraries, and to build a new library in Redmond.
Viewable from the lobby through floor-to-ceiling windows, library employees mill about the Automated Materials Handling machine while it sorts returned and transferred books along a conveyor system. The first floor features blond wood shelves filled with new and popular titles, illuminated by track lighting and punctuated by monitors teasing upcoming library events. There’s also a Thump Coffee Cafe. Flanking the lobby is a partitioned event space area. There are self-check-out kiosks, like those at grocery stores, a printer/copier and a holds/pick-up station near the main entrance.
Upper levels are accessible via the central stairway or elevators. The children, youth and teen collections are found on the second floor, along with an all-ages Spanish-language collection. Story times and other events
are homed in a youth programing room. A dedicated children’s discovery area in the west side of the second floor help kiddos develop fine motor skills, letter and word recognition and imagination skills — all important for budding, soon-to-be readers. A creative room is where hands-on craft projects and other classes will happen. Teens get their own space on the southeast side to collaborate, study and hang out. There are also computer stations.
The third floor houses the adult fiction and nonfiction collections, along with, temporarily, the Law Library collection, which will move back to the Downtown Bend Library after its remodel is finished next year.
“You are the magic … this candle doesn’t work without you.”
—Josie Standfield, owner of WitchCrafting with Josie.
A 21st Century feature of the Central Library is its status as a net-zero emissions structure. Solar panels top the building and the parking lot’s massive carports. Gold-certified Leadership in Energy Efficiency and Design, the Central Library earned the accolade by its dedication to reduced water use and building materials, such as the Dowel-Laminated Timber that lines the ceiling and columns. It’s a mix of oak, pine and fir, sourced from sustainable Canadian forests within 500 miles of Central Oregon.
The Deschutes Public Library’s Central Library 61956 SE Santorini Street, Bend
Main hours: 9am—8pm, Mon-Thurs 9am—6pm, Fri-Sun
Drive-thru hours: 10am—6pm, Mon-Sun for holds, pick ups 24/7 returns for book, DVD and magazine returns
Thump Coffee Cafe hours: 9am—5pm, Mon-Sun
A sunning sculpture, “Juniper,” greets visitors from high above the lobby of the new Deschutes Central Library in southeast Bend.
Photos by Peter Madsen
Deschutes County Candidate Accused of Illegal AI Fake-Out on Campaign Website
Brooke West was a last-minute entry to the race for the Deschutes County Board of County Commissioners and hasn’t responded to interview requests from media
By Clayton Franke
Arelatively unknown candidate for the Deschutes County Board of County Commissioners is under investigation by the state’s elections office after a complaint accused her of illegally using AI-altered images of herself on a campaign website.
The candidate, Brooke West, was a last-minute entry into the race for Position 1, entering the race six days before the filing deadline in March. By that time, longtime incumbent Commissioner Tony DeBone and challenger Jamie Collins, a U.S. Coast Guard veteran, had already built substantial campaigns ahead of the May 19 primary election. Now, West’s low-profile and seemingly longshot candidacy — she has generally not responded to interview requests from media, including emails and phone calls requesting comment for this story — has the attention of Collins’ campaign.
The complaint, filed by a consultant affiliated with Collins’ campaign, alleges West violated a 2024 law passed by the Oregon Legislature that requires campaigns to disclose when their materials are created or manipulated using Artificial Intelligence. The complaint was filed April 17 with the Oregon Secretary of State’s Elections Division and provided to the Source by the office.
“Brooke West’s campaign website (for Deschutes County Commission Position 1) appears to have multiple Al-generated or altered images featured, yet no disclosure,” wrote Hannah Love, a Portland-based political strategist working on Collins’ campaign. “I believe it’s incumbent upon the elections division to ask the candidate to provide the name of the photographer, the location and date it was shot, and clear identification of the people featured, in order to determine if these images are real or artificial.”
If West is found to be in violation, she could face up to a $10,000 fine.
Love confirmed via LinkedIn she filed the request for an investigation, but didn’t respond to follow-up questions about her involvement in the Deschutes County Commission race. Campaign finance records show Collins’ campaign has paid Love’s consulting company about $20,000 since August.
The elections office notified Love April 29 it had opened an investigation into the AI violations. The office chose not to investigate a second allegation in the complaint, which said West had failed to register a candidate committee to report campaign donations and spending. The state said campaigns that don’t expect to spend more than $1,500 are exempt from filing a committee.
Collins did not respond to a request for comment on this story, including specific questions about Love’s work for his campaign.
DeBone declined to comment.
“I’ve got no information and no comment,” he said.
Though West’s candidacy seems like a longshot, it could still affect the race. With three candidates in the race, it’s more likely that neither DeBone or Collins will secure the 51% of the vote needed to win the seat in the May primary, which would force a runoff in the November general election.
Questions unanswered
The complaint specifically cites two images from West’s campaign website. One shows West posing with two dogs amid a backdrop of what appears to be the Three Sisters mountains. In the other, West is conversing over plans with a worker at what appears to be a housing construction site.
West is donning a hat with a logo reading, “W&W Construction.”
West’s county commission filing paperwork, along with her entry in the voter’s pamphlet for the primary election, lists her occupation as “business owner and operator,” with a background as a “construction operations manager, bookkeeper, administrative management, compliance coordinator.” West does not name a specific business anywhere in the materials.
A search for West’s name in the state’s business registry database produces no results. A business under the name W&W Construction LLC is registered to Donald Waibel, at an address just outside of Tumalo.
A Google search for W&W Construction in Deschutes County produces what’s called a “knowledge panel” — or a box with information pulled from various sources across the web — that links W&W Construction LLC with West’s phone number. A website isn’t listed, and the name doesn’t appear in the top results in a Google search for the business name.
West didn’t respond to phone calls or emailed questions about whether the images were generated using AI, or questions about her work.
West’s statement in the Deschutes County Primary Election Voters’ Pamphlet says she attended Bend’s Summit High School and got degrees from Central Oregon Community College and OSU-Cascades. It also says she is a “third-generation contractor.”
Her mother, Tana West, is running for Deschutes County Assessor, the top county official in charge of setting property values. West, a longtime deputy assessor for the County, was endorsed by retiring assessor Scott Langdon.
Tana West confirmed her relation to Brooke West in an email.
“However, we are running completely separate and distinct campaigns, and I am not endorsing or involved in any campaign other than my own race for Deschutes County Assessor,” West said. “I was not aware of the allegations or any potential violations referenced in your email prior to hearing from you today.
She declined to comment further on her daughter’s campaign.
Rise of AI in campaigns
Oregon lawmakers passed SB1571 amid growing concerns locally and across the country that emerging technologies allow campaigns to manipulate voters by creating seemingly real videos, photos and images of events that never actually happened — so-called “deepfakes.” Supporters, including the Secretary of State’s Office, said the bill would strengthen public trust in elections. Some opponents said it didn’t go far enough to restrict the use of generative images in campaign materials, while others, like the ACLU of Oregon, warned of free speech violations while also recognizing the risks of deepfakes.
The allegations against West are not the first time the use of AI has come up in Deschutes County this election cycle. When Oregon Public Broadcasting published responses to a questionnaire from all 15 Deschutes County Commission candidates earlier this year, the station noted that Samuel Facey, a candidate in the six-way race for Position 3, admitted to using AI to write his answers, calling it a “vital tool.”
The law applies only to “synthetic media” — photos, videos and audio. It also exempts media outlets that publish altered content in advertising, and in reporting, as long as it’s stated the content was altered.
According to Spokesperson Tess Seger, the Secretary of State’s Office has received a few investigation requests since the AI campaign law passed in 2024, but none have led to penalties. One other AI complaint has been filed this primary election, but the office declined to investigate.
A screenshot from Brooke West’s campaign website shows one of the images that a complaint with the Oregon Secretary of State’s Office alleges was generated or altered by AI in violation of state law.
Brooke West for Commissioner
TREDMOND NEWS
Seven Red Light Cameras Go Live in Redmond May 15
Plans are in the works to add another seven traffic cameras
By Nic Moye
he City of Redmond will turn on its red light cameras May 15. Phase one of the automated photo enforcement traffic program includes six stationary cameras and one mobile unit that can be placed in different areas.
The first fixed camera locations will be facing north, south, east and westbound at NW Sixth Street and Maple Avenue as well as north and southbound at the 2900 block of NW Tenth Street. The first location for the mobile unit will be the 2000 block of SW Quartz Avenue.
The selected intersections are considered high-risk traffic areas. Redmond Police say between 2023 and 2025 at least 15 traffic crashes occurred at NW 6th and Maple. Lt. Curtis Chambers with Redmond Police told the Source that’s the highest number at a Redmond intersection that is not managed by the Oregon Department of Transportation.
Chambers says is consistent with Oregon state records retention laws. He says Verra Mobility has contracts with at least eight other jurisdictions in Oregon for its photo enforcement systems and has established a good reputation for data security, privacy compliance and expertise in the state’s legal requirements.
“Redmond is not sharing any photo enforcement data with any other outside agency and has no mechanism or process that provides access to federal immigration authorities,” Chambers says. “Any disclosure of data would need to comply with Oregon law, which strictly limits the use and release of traffic enforcement records.”
The intersection on NW Tenth Street was chosen in part because it’s near a posted elementary school zone which is regularly a 25-mph zone that drops to 20 during certain hours. A large subdivision in the area was also recently completed, with another one currently under construction and a third housing development starting soon.
The first location for the mobile unit, which exclusively targets speeders, will be near Quartz Park which Chambers says is one of the city’s most frequently visited parks. It’s also where the Dry Canyon Trail crosses the road. Chambers says SW Quartz, a 25 mile-per-hour residential street, has been used as a cut-through with speeding a persistent issue since it opened in 2000. Chambers says the initial plan is to move the mobile unit every four months. There would be public notices and a 30-day warning period before citations are issued at each new location.
Chambers says warning signs alerting drivers to the traffic cameras will be in place before they go live on May 15. He says the goal is to change dangerous driving behavior.
“I will stress that this is not a gotcha game. This is not a money grab. The Redmond Police Department and the City of Redmond as a whole would be over the moon happy if no violations were captured by the photo enforcement system because no violations were occurring,” he says.
The City of Redmond has a five-year contract for the cameras with Verra Mobility, a smart transportation company based in Arizona. As the Source reported in November, the contract is for $4.3 million.
“All images associated with potential violations are captured and processed within Verra Mobility’s secure system, but the City of Redmond retains full ownership and control over all data,” Chambers says. “Verra Mobility cannot share, sell or release Redmond’s data to any outside agency.” He says images from incidents where no citation is issued will be retained up to 30 days. Images associated with citations issued for traffic violations will be retained up to 36 months, which
Verra Mobility’s Public Relations Manager Jamie Phillis told the Source, “Verra Mobility takes privacy and data protection seriously and is dedicated to handling personal data with the utmost care and responsibility in full compliance with applicable laws. Enforcement programs are operated, and all personal data is owned by the customer. Verra Mobility does not share this data with or sell it to any third party. “ Drivers who speed or go through a red light at any of those intersections will receive a warning during the first month. Tickets will begin June 15. The fine for a red-light violation is $265. Speeding 11 to 20 miles per hour over the limit is $165. The fine jumps to $265 for speeds up to 30 miles per hour over and $440 for drivers going more than 31 miles per hour over the limit. Fines are doubled in school zones.
If the registered owner of a vehicle was not driving at the time of an infraction, that person can submit a Certificate of Innocence or Certificate of Non-Liability and submit the name, address and driver’s license information of the person who was driving. Police may reissue a citation to the driver if they can determine it to be factual.
Phase two of the program will add seven more cameras. Locations have not yet been selected but Chambers says the City is working with ODOT to possibly install them on roads managed by ODOT such as Highway 97 and Odem Medo Road and the intersection of SW Highland Avenue and Rimrock Way. Chambers says the hope is to have those up and running by the end of the year.
Kacey Davey with ODOT explains there’s a process cities must follow to install cameras on highways. “That includes submitting a formal request with safety and operations data, followed by technical review and approval by ODOT’s State Traffic Engineer. If approved, ODOT and the local jurisdiction enter into an agreement that outlines roles and responsibilities. That agreement step can take some time depending on the project.” Davey says Redmond’s requests are still moving through the review stage.
The City of Bend turned on automatic traffic cameras at three intersections in April with an initial warning period. Citations begin on May 15, the same day Redmond’s cameras go live.
SPEED DATING FOR SINGLES (AGES 40+)
SKIP THE APPS
Speed Dating: Meet fun, like-minded singles in a relaxed, welcoming setting! Enjoy laughter, great conversations & real connections. 6-8pm at Testimony Wine Bar. 307 NW 6th St, Redmond, OR. Free.
REDMOND FARMERS MARKET
FILL UP THEM TOTE BAGS
Peruse and shop for some goods from local vendors and farmers. The Friday Farmers Market runs from May through August.3-7pm at Centennial Park. 446 SW 9th St, Redmond. Free.
REDMOND COOKBOOK CLUB
FROM PAGE TO FORK
Join local home chefs for a potluck cooked from a different cookbook each month. Meet great people, enjoy delicious wine, and share fabulous food! Choose a recipe at the monthly happy hour on the 2nd Tuesday, then bring a dish to the dinner party every 3rd Tuesday. 6-8pm at Arome. 432 SW 6th St, Redmond. $15
V erra Mobility
Amid Rapid Growth, Redmond Hashes Out Groundwater Future
The City of Redmond got the go-ahead last year to pump groundwater at higher rates, which officials expect to suffice for the next 20 years or more. But a rapidly declining aquifer poses questions about the long-term security of the City’s sole water source.
Hanging from the wall of Josh Wedding’s office is a black and white photo from 1954. It shows how the City of Redmond used to pull water from the Deschutes River, storing it in a pond and piping it downhill using gravity to homes and businesses. When demand grew following World War II, the City began supplementing its water supply with a Central Oregon Irrigation District diversion canal — hardly a clean source. Algae growth in the canals forced the City to build a treatment plant.
Wedding, the City’s public works director, chuckles when he describes the old system. The City has come a long way since then. Part of Wedding’s job is to oversee a system of eight wells that pull water from crevasses in rock, hundreds of feet underground, into multi-million-gallon reservoir tanks at the surface. There is no need for a treatment plant. After falling as rain and snow in the Cascade Mountains, the water seeps through miles of porous volcanic soil and rock — a natural, free purifier for the City’s sole water source.
Story and photos by Clayton Franke “The new rules will likely result in fewer permits being issued for new groundwater uses.”
While the switch underground solved the algae issue, water remains one of the biggest challenges facing the City of Redmond today. Persistent drought, rapid population growth, shifting regulations and other changes are raising long-term questions about the future of Redmond’s groundwater, which continues to drop farther and farther below the growing communities that depend on it.
Death by a thousand cuts
Last year, Redmond got what Wedding considers a win for Redmond: the ability to pump groundwater at a higher rate.
“Anytime you’re dealing with water rights and you get something, that’s a win,” Wedding told the Source.
But it wasn’t exactly what the City had asked for. When it first applied for a new groundwater permit
in 2023, it wanted not only to increase the amount of groundwater it could pump at any given moment, but also volume it could pump in an entire year.
Officials at the Oregon Water Resources Department, the state agency in charge of issuing new water use permits, said no. The department cited plummeting levels in the Deschutes Basin aquifer, the water trapped in permeable rock hundreds of feet below Central Oregon.
recharge the aquifer from what’s pulled out by cities and private wells across the county.
According to Kemper, eight of the last 12 years in the Deschutes Basin have seen below-average precipitation levels. Plus, irrigation districts that pull water from the Deschutes River to supply farmers with water for crops are piping more and more canals. That makes water delivery to farmers more efficient, but eliminates leakage that incidentally helped refill the Deschutes aquifer for 100 years, Kemper explained. Meanwhile, as Central Oregon’s population has boomed, cities have asked to pump more water, and people drill new and deeper wells in rural parts of the region.
Municipal use is only a fraction of the water allocated in the Deschutes Basin.
For hydrologists and regulators, the declining aquifer has raised alarm bells — and put a 70-year-old law into action.
Over capacity
— Jason cox
Redmond’s application, along with other denied permits, portend an uncertain future for municipal groundwater allocation in Central Oregon.
Since the 1990s, the aquifer under Redmond has dropped by more than 40 feet. And the rate of decline has picked up in recent years, from 1 foot per year to 2 feet per year or more.
“It’s kind of a combination, a death by a thousand cuts sort of scenario,” Joe Kemper, an Oregon Water Resources Department hydrologist for the Deschutes Basin, told the Deschutes County Board of County Commissioners in a March 2 presentation. Kemper described that the warming climate means less rain and snowfall in the mountains, and in turn, less water eventually makes its way through the soil and rock to
Oregon’s 1955 Ground Water Act established groundwater as a public resource and set the framework for using it through a permit system. It mandated the state to maintain “reasonably stable” groundwater levels.
But state regulators say that definition was never clearly defined — until 2024. That’s when the state administered new rules to apply when assessing whether cities and other users should be allowed to pump more groundwater than previously allowed. The rules defined an unstable aquifer as declining faster than 0.6 feet per year, or 25 feet total.
“The new rules will likely result in fewer permits being issued for new groundwater uses,” wrote Jason Cox, public information officer with the water resources department, in an email to the Source on May 7. “This will help protect existing wells from going dry and will better protect existing water users.”
Though Redmond’s initial application for more groundwater came before the new groundwater rules were passed, the water agency still found it was “not within the capacity” of the resource for the City to take more, Cox said. One test well in the Redmond area had dropped “excessively,” or by more than 50 feet. Others were forecasted to reach that mark soon.
The state has allowed Redmond to raise its overall pumping rate from 21,000 gallons per minute to about 23,000, without raising its cumulative annual water use. That allows the City to meet higher demand in the summer.
Reconciling water and growth
As population growth cools across the state, Deschutes County and the City of Redmond are still outpacing other areas. Redmond grew by 2% from 2024 to 2025 and by 14% since 2020.
Redmond officials are confident the new permit will satisfy growth needs for the next 15 to 20 years. In that time, the City is expected to grow from about 38,000 to anywhere from 51,000 to 55,000 people.
Cities aren’t allowed to moderate growth. Instead, they must plan for it. The state predicts Redmond
will need to add 10,250 housing units by 2040 to meet demand and make up for historic underproduction. Redmond — and all other jurisdictions in Oregon — must create long-term plans for growth according to the state’s set of land use planning goals set up in the 1970s. That includes neighborhood designs, streets, sewer and water systems, and more.
“I don’t think the state wants to see cities in Central Oregon locked in where they can’t grow. The state needs Central Oregon to prosper.” — ed fitch
“Cities are going to be required to grow and to provide those vital services, like water, sewer, police, etc.,” Redmond Mayor Ed Fitch told the Source in an interview. “Yet at the same time, on the water resources side, they’re saying, ‘Hey, look, you may not get more water,’ which does not make a lot of sense. The question is, how do we reconcile those two?”
One certainty is that the City will need to get more stringent with the water it is allowed to pump from the ground. That’s already in motion through the City’s conservation program. Since 2017 the City has offered a rebate program to pay back homeowners for costs associated with becoming more water-efficient, including installing weather-based irrigation control systems, which automate sprinklers and outdoor watering to ease off when it’s cooler and pick up when it’s hot.
Redmond does not offer rebates for homeowners who choose to tear out their lawns in favor of low-water landscaping — a conservation tool that’s become increasingly popular in Bend. Wedding, the public works director, said paid lawn removal could be an option in
the future. But he says efficient irrigation devices offer better return on investment because they can generally reach more people for the same cost. For example, Bend’s program offers up to $3,000 per household for lawn removal, while Redmond rebates $125 per customer for weather-based irrigation systems.
Redmond’s efforts have helped shave the City’s overall water use in recent years despite the booming population.
Also helping the City are state land use planning rules dictating denser types of housing development. According to Wedding, denser development is more water efficient, partially because townhomes, condos and apartments generally have less irrigable outdoor space than single family homes.
In the future, Redmond may also be able to pursue transfers of existing water rights in the basin, which would allow the City to increase groundwater pumping.
“There’s all kinds of moving parts in this long range,” Fitch told the Source. “I don’t think the state wants to see cities in Central Oregon locked in where they can’t grow. The state needs Central Oregon to prosper.”
Going deeper
As the City works on conservation efforts, the declining aquifer could have other consequences for Redmond.
According to Wedding, some of the City’s oldest wells from the 1960s and ‘70s are at risk of drying up. Because the wells are too old, the City can’t make them any deeper. Newer wells drilled in the last 10 years are extremely deep — up to 850 feet — and not at risk of drying up, but the City may have to lower pumps on those wells to reach water.
“If those water levels really start dropping, now is the time we start asking for outside funding to mitigate those steps, saving in a different way for capital projects, whether it’s deepening a well, lowering a pump,” Wedding said. “Those are issues that we will face if things go worst-case scenario.”
—This story is powered by the Lay It Out Foundation, the nonprofit with a mission of promoting deep reporting and investigative journalism in Central Oregon. Learn more and be part of this important work by visiting layitoutfoundation.org. If you're interested in syndicating Lay It Out Foundation content or purchasing an article for use, you can do so through the website.
Travis Robbins, water division manager with the City of Redmond, stands next to a 4 million gallon water tank in southwest Redmond fed by a well drilled in 2021. At right, Robbins talks about the City’s water system that pumps water from an aquifer hundreds of feet below the ground into tanks at the surface, where it’s distributed for residents to use.
A sprinkler waters a lawn in Redmond May 7. Part of the City’s plan to conserve water is with weather-based irrigation controls, which moderate watering based on outdoor temperature.
SOURCE PICKS
THURSDAY 05/14
JARED GRAHAM
TALES FROM THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST
A talented songwriter weaves tales from his life in the Pacific Northwest into his original material, creating a sound that is uniquely his own. 7:30-9:30pm at Commonwealth Pub. 30 SW Century Dr #100, Bend. Free.
THURSDAY 05/14
FAIRY LAND GARDEN PARTY
FLOWER CROWNS AND CHARM
Enjoy an afternoon of springtime charm with live plant arrangements available for purchase, flower crowns, refreshing mimosas, and light bites. 2-4pm at Touchmark at Pilot Butte. 1125 NE Watt Way, Bend. Free.
FRIDAY 05/15
FRACTAL
THE DANCE-PARTY SCENE
CASABLANCA GALA
40S MELODRAMA COSPLAY FUNDRAISER
Dress to enchant, don a mask, for a night that makes a lasting difference for the children in foster care in the community. Enjoy a beautifully prepared plated dinner, a fully hosted bar, a wine wall pull, spirited live and silent auctions, and a decadent dessert. At Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Central Oregon. 61980 NW Skyline Ranch Rd, Bend $150. SATURDAY 05/16
AARON GOLAY & THE ORIGINAL SIN
AMERICAN-SOUL
Loud, yet tender with high energy, engaging live performances are what stand out with Aaron Golay. A blend of Americana, roots, rock, and soul make every song a story people will immediately remember. 7-10pm at Silver Moon Brewing. 24 NW Greenwood Ave, Bend. $12.24.
SUNDAY 05/17
WORTHY FARMERS MARKET
A MARKET
WORTHY OF VISITING
Farm Fresh Produce – straight from local growers! One-of-a-kind products. Live music, food, cocktails & beer – Because Sundays should be fun! Set on their dog-friendly patio, it is the perfect way to spend a Sunday. 10am-2pm at Worthy Brewing. 495 NE Bellevue Dr, Bend. Free.
Fractal was formed in the winter of 2019 in Bend. Mostly formed from members of Watkins Glen and Cosmic Evolution, they decided to bring a dance party vibe to Central Oregon that the region had never seen. 7pm at Silver Moon Brewing 24 NW Greenwood Ave. Bend. $12.24 SATURDAY 05/16
MONDAY 05/18
THRIFT STORE PROM— MONDAY MAYHEM
IT’S PROM SEASON
Dress in prom attire, thrifted formalwear, or full costume and get 10% off an entire bill! A night of drinks, dancing, and nostalgic fun as the taproom is turned into a prom throwback! 4-8pm at Cascade Lakes Pub on Reed Market. 21175 SE Reed Market Rd, Bend. Free.
TUESDAY 05/19
AVENUE ARMY
ROCK HAILING FROM THE COAST
Since exploding onto the San Diego music scene in 2016, Avenue Army has been relentlessly carving out its place in the heart of modern rock. 6:30-9pm at Silver Moon Brewing. 24 NW Greenwood Ave, Bend. $12.24.
WEDNESDAY 05/20
GEOFFRY LOUIS KOCH
INDIE-FOLK EXPERIENCE
Geoffrey Louis Koch (pronounced "Jeffrey Louis Coke") blends folk, atmospheric indie rock, alt country, and cinematic textures, drawing comparisons to Bon Iver, Gregory Alan Isakov, Elliott Smith, and Wilco. 7pm at Silver Moon Brewing. 24 NW Greenwood Ave, Bend. Free.
Silver Moon Brewing
SOUND Redmond’s Summer Sizzles with a Robust Music Lineup
Several music venues will host a variety of talent
By Nic Moye
There’s no shortage of live music events in Redmond over the summer. General Duffy’s Waterhole hosts its annual AccuAir Heating & Cooling’s Summer Kickin’ Concert Series with Jacquie Roar on Friday, May 22. Her career skyrocketed on Season 24 of “The Voice” where she finished fourth in the finale. The series also includes country music stars Joe Nichols on June 12, Dylan Scott on June 19, country rapper Colt Ford on July 2 and country singer Bryan Martin on July 25. The country-pop band Lonestar takes the stage August 16. The band, which formed in 1992, has sold more than 10 million albums. Country pop singer/songwriter Niko Moon performs August 29 with an uplifting, beach-country sound. He’s best known for the hit “Good Time.” George Birge rounds out the series Sept. 5. Formerly part of the duo Waterloo Revival, Birge found solo success in 2021. A full season pass is $295. Individual tickets range from $33 to $55.
Faith Hope & Charity Vineyards has live music on weekends throughout the summer. Golden Hour will get the party started May 23. Other performers scheduled in June include Heller Highwater Trio, Jeff Miller and The Congregation, Bobby Lindstrom, Station Camp, Precious Byrd, Mango Stew, Dry Canyon Stampede and Status Fear. Also in June, Neon Circus, a Brooks & Dunn tribute, is part of the FANFest
Concert Series at Blacksmith Public House. In July, Toby: The Experience takes the stage as the ultimate tribute to Toby Keith. In August, the concert series continues with a Classic Journey Tribute.
The annual Music on the Green at American Legion Park is a free family friendly series on alternating Wednesday evenings starting the end of June. The lineup includes JuJu Eyeball June 24, The Substitutes July 8, Eric Leadbetter Band July 22, Pete Kartsounes Aug. 5, That 90’s Band Aug. 19 and Hokule’a O’hana Dancers on Sept. 2.
On July 24, the Spencer Marlyn Band will perform at the Redmond Brewfest & Night Glow, also at American Legion Park.
Several music events are scheduled at the Deschutes County Fair & Expo Center. Reggae Rise Up Oregon is three days of music, camping, food, vendors and art for all ages June 12-14. This year’s lineup includes Dirty Heads, Rebelution, Soja, Burning Spear, Common Kings, J Boog, Aaron Wolf, Ballyhoo!, Lila Ike, Makua, Skip Marley, Tribe of I, Tropidelic and many more.
Mid-summer, the Free Summer Concert Series is included with the price of admission to the Deschutes County Fair & Rodeo July 29-Aug 2. Performers announced so far include Sara Evans, Tyler Hubbard and Ja Rule.
Rebelution performs at Reggae Rise Up in June.
reggaeriseup.com
CALENDAR
13 Wednesday
The Capitol Karaoke Drink specials! Air guitars! People should definitely check this out for themselves. 8pm-1am. Free.
The Commonwealth Pub Dark & Grey A dynamic rock band, bringing decades of music to life with energy and heart. From classic rock anthems of the 60s and 70s to 90s. 7:30-9:30pm. Free.
The Coyote Free Line Dance Lessons Free beginner-friendly line dance lessons with instructor Alex Reininger. Learn two fun dances in one hour—no experience needed! 7-8pm. Free.
Craft Kitchen and Brewery Comedy Open Mic Night Open mic comedy on Bend’s NE side. Come down, eat some BBQ, drink some drinks, and be prepared to laugh. 7:30-9pm. Free.
Dogwood At The Pine Shed Transmission: ‘80s Dark Wave Social Club Immerse yourself in the sounds of the ’80s underground. A moody night of goth, post-punk, and darkwave. Second Wednesday of every month, 7-10pm. Free.
Portello Lounge Music Bingo Music Bingo is hosted by the always entertaining Rachel Fishman, who keeps the crowd singing and laughing all night! 6:30-8:30pm. Free.
14 Thursday
The Belfry Glen Phillips (of Toad and the Wet Sprocket) During his almost 40 years as lead singer and main songwriter of Toad the Wet Sprocket, Glen Phillips has helped create the band’s elegant folk/pop sound with honest, introspective lyrics that forged a close bond with fans. 7-9pm.
Bevel Craft Brewing Live Music at Bevel Catch talented local artists on the patio, grab a bite from 4 on-site food carts, and enjoy award-winning craft beer, wine, cider, and more. 6-8pm. Free.
Bunk+Brew Karaoke Thursdays All voices are welcome. Food carts available all evening! Located in the Historic Lucas House Living Room for winter. 7-10pm. Free.
The Cellar Live Irish Trad Music with The Ballybogs! Live music featuring Bend’s Irish Trad band, The Ballybogs! Every Thursday at The Cellar. Seats fill up, so get there early! 6-8pm. Free.
The Commonwealth Pub Jared Graham A talented songwriter, Jared weaves tales from his life in the Pacific Northwest into his original material, creating a sound that is uniquely his own. 7:30-9:30pm. Free.
High Desert Music Hall Porangui Serve
The Music Tour w/ Andy Fischer-Price Music is a living consciousness- The Serve the Music World Tour features special guest, Andy Fischer-Price. 6:30-10pm. $35 in advance/ $40 at door.
Hosmer Bar Bingo Night Your week just found its highlight—bingo! Drinks, good company and a little friendly competition. 7-9pm. Free.
Initiative Brewing - The Hub Karaoke at Initiative in Redmond! They flip the switch—free, all-ages karaoke where kids, regulars, and first-timers get their moment. 5:30-7:30pm. Free.
The Lot Sidney Joseph A multi-instrumentalist who’s greatest passion has been creating and performing music since he was just a wee lad. 6-8pm. Free.
LIVE MUSIC & NIGHTLIFE
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Mountain Burger Jenna Hansen Live at Mountain Burger! Jenna Hansen at Mountain Burger for Thursday Night Live! Great music, food & company! 6-8pm. Free.
Silver Moon Brewing Lane Norberg & The Paper Flares In 2018, Norberg relocated to Portland, OR, where he quickly gained many faithful fans, playing hundreds of shows and touring all over the western US. 7-10pm.
The Winery at Manzanita- Bend Vino & Vibes Enjoy an evening of wine and Local community grooves every Thursday. Local singers and song writers welcome. 5-7pm. Free.
Tower Theatre Take it to the Limit - The Music & Legacy of the Eagles Get ready for an unforgettable night of live music as some of Canada’s most talented musicians and vocalists perform Eagles hits, including classics like Hotel California. 7:30-10:30pm.
15 Friday
Bend Cider Co. John Shipe Music by roots-driven stylings of seasoned singer-song writer. Amazing ciders, beer, wine, & n/a beverages in the lovely garden. Light appetizers available, outside food welcome. 6-8pm. Free.
The Commonwealth Pub Clayton Ryan Minnesota’s Clayton Ryan is made of a different soil. He has built a career of songwriting in both Los Angeles and Nashville, despite spending the majority of his life in the rustic heartland of America. 6:30-7:45pm. Free.
The Commonwealth Pub Cheyenne West Band Her high energy shows and country rockin’ flavor keep the crowds yearning for more and her humble, yet bold personality will have people buzzin for many more years to come! 8-10pm. Free.
Pangaea Guild Hall Speakeasy Nights
Pangea Guild Hall is holding a secret speakeasy with an evening of live entertainment and classic cocktails. Something new to discover every week! 6-9pm. Pay what you can.
Portello Lounge Wil Kinky @ Portello Lounge! Portland’s Will Kinky is bringing his high-energy mix of Blues, Soul, Rock ’N Roll, looping mastery, and rockabilly swagger to Portello Lounge! Don’t miss this night of incredible live music and lounge vibes. 6:30-8:30pm. Free for customers.
Silver Moon Brewing The Rumpeppers & Kidd Nostalgia The Rumpeppers are an electrifying rock and indie-funk outfit rooted in the vibrant Central Oregon music scene. Known for their warm blend of rock, indie funk, and psychedelic textures. 7-10pm.
Silver Moon Brewing FRACTAL Fractal was formed in the winter of 2019 in Bend Oregon. Mostly formed from members of Watkins Glen and Cosmic Evolution they decided to bring a dance party vibe to Central Oregon that the region had never seen. 7-10pm. $12.24
16 Saturday
Bridge 99 Brewery Family-Friendly Karaoke Night Family-friendly karaoke is hosted by DJ Jackie J and A Fine Note Karaoke Too from 6-9 PM. Adults, kids and good dogs welcome. 6-9pm. Free.
The Commonwealth Pub Chained To Stone A dynamic 90’s grunge rock cover band bringing the iconic sounds of the era to life with their authentic performances. Known for their powerful vocals and precise melodic renditions, Chained to Stone delivers a nostalgic experience that takes audiences back to the heart and soul of the 90s. 8-10pm. Free.
Hayden Homes Amphitheater John Mulaney with guests Fred Armisen & Mike Birbiglia Four-time Emmy Award winner, Critics Choice award and WGA award-winning writer, comedian and actor John Mulaney joins Fred Armisen, the comedian, writer, producer and musician who’s also the co-writer and co-star of IFC’s Emmy-nominated series “Portlandia,” along with Mike Birbiglia an Emmy-nominated comedian, writer, director, and actor, at the amphitheater, rain or shine. 8pm. $67.20+.
McMenamins Father Luke’s Room Five Pint Mary @ Father Luke’s Room Five Pint Mary is a 5 piece, Irish-influenced band from Bend, Oregon, known for their upbeat and rollicking style of Irish/pirate/folk-rock. 7-10pm. $11.
Midtown Ballroom Fortunate Youth, Rubbah Tree, & Nine To Fyah From backyard BBQs in Southern California beach towns to its rise as one of the most popular reggae rock bands in the country, Fortunate Youth remains devoted to its roots and a simple mission: Spread peace, love, and unity with music. 8-11pm. $35.87.
Portello Lounge Timothy James @ Portello Lounge Portland’s Timothy James brings masterful guitar work, soulful originals, amazing takes on covers, and blues-rock energy to Portello Lounge. 6:30-8:30pm. Free for customers.
Powell Butte Community Center Public Dance Public Dance. Powell Butte Community Center featuring Frank Carlson. Western, Rock, 50’s. Dance 7 until 10 Adults $10.00 Chuck Wagon Dinner 6 until 8. $12.00 Chicken Enchiladas, Caesar Salad. Saloon opens at 6:00 p.m. 6-10pm. $10.
Silver Moon Brewing Obsidian Music Festival Feat. Vacancy Floor & more This is a doom metal festival featuring Oregon and Washington bands. 5-10pm.
Silver Moon Brewing Aaron Golay & The Original Sin Loud, yet tender with high energy, engaging live performances are what stand out with Aaron Golay. A blend of Americana, Roots, Rock, and Soul make every song a story people will immediately remember. 7-10pm.
Silver Moon Brewing Handmade Moments Ornate instrumentation details the bedrock of their simple yet sophisticated songcraft, and endearing, intoxicating personality. Handmade Moments’ piercing lyricism and carousing croon both tell their own inspirational tale, and encompass larger themes that resonate within all. 7:30-10:30pm. $22.94
Tower Theatre Helen Keaney w/ Shanan Kelley Helen Keaney is a comedy force of nature who’s carved out her own lane—and left a trail of laughter from coast to coast, and ocean to ocean! A national headliner with razor-sharp wit, Helen has performed in nearly every U.S. state, including Alaska, Hawaii, and all over the high seas. 7:30pm. $19 - $49 (plus $8 Historic Preservation fee).
17 Sunday
The Commonwealth Pub Trifecta - Celtic Music Trifecta is a band that specializes in traditional Celtic music from Ireland and other parts of the world. Trifecta is comprised of fiddles, guitar, and other stringed instruments. 4-6pm. Free.
The Commonwealth Pub Double Trouble Trivia 5 rounds per night- sometimes themed, sometimes a variety of themes. Features the “Double Trouble” final round that allows teams who are behind a chance to catch up. Free to Play, Prizes to Win. 6:30-8pm. Free.
Dogwood At The Pine Shed Okay Karaoke Sing favorite songs with friends, enjoy professional sound and lighting. Hosted by the dynamic Tammy Larsen, it’s the perfect night out for music lovers and party people alike. Noon-11pm. Free.
Initiative Brewing - The Hub Trivia Sunday with UKB Trivia at Initiative Brewing/The Hub in Redmond Not too early, not too late! Team up to win prizes, or for the fun of it. No fee to play! This is no ordinary trivia quiz, it’s Useless Knowledge Bowl! Enjoy fantastic food and brews. Bring good vibes and a pen if possible. 4-6pm. Free.
18 Monday
Bevel Craft Brewing Bingo with Bren Supporting Street Dog Hero Bingo with Bren is supporting Street Dog Hero! Half of proceeds go to cash prizes, while the other half helps rescue and care for street dogs around the world and find them loving homes. $2 Per Card of 6 Cards for $10! This is a family-friendly event. $2.
Lane Norberg and the Paper Flares will play at Silver Moon Brewing May 14.
Silver Moon Brewing
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Cascade Lakes Pub on Reed Market Thrift Store Prom - Monday Mayhem Dress in prom attire, thrifted formalwear, or full costume and get 10% off an entire bill! A night of drinks, dancing, and nostalgic fun as the taproom is turned into a prom throwback! 4-8pm. Free.
The Commonwealth Pub Musician Open Mic Showcase hosted by The Session Calling all musicians! Monday nights are nights for a special opportunity to showcase talent, connect with other artists, and perform in a welcoming and collaborative, music-loving atmosphere. Backline provided, just bring instruments and chords! 5-9pm. Free.
M&J Tavern Vinyl Night Monday Night just got better!!! 9pm to Midnight. Bring a vinyl and sign up to add it to the Playlist or pick from a playlist. 9pm. Free.
On Tap Locals’ Day Plus Live Music Cheaper drinks all day and live music at night, get down to On Tap. 11am-9pm. Free.
19 Tuesday
The Astro Lounge Tuesdays Trivia and Karaoke The longest running trivia show in Central Oregon. This is a bring your own food event. We have a small fryer menu but supporting other restaurants is encouraged. We will follow with karaoke with Christina at 9pm till close. 7:309pm. Free.
Beach Hut Deli Tip of the Tongue Trivia Tip of the Tongue trivia is the right event for those who want to test their knowledge and try for a chance to win some great prizes! 6-8pm. Free.
The Capitol Karaoke Drink specials! Air guitars! People should definitely check this out for themselves. 8pm-1am. Free.
The Cellar Open Mic Open Mic is hosted by Mari of the band, Mari & The Dream! This is an intimate night of sharing music in a welcoming environment and supportive community. 6-8pm. Free.
The Commons Cafe & Taproom Open Mic StoryTellers open mic nights are full of music, laughs and community. Mason James is the host. Poetry, comedy and spoken word are welcome, but this is mainly a musical open mic. 6pm. Free.
The Commonwealth Pub Elise Franklin Quartet The Elise Franklin Quartet, a group of experienced musicians playing jazz standards and Latin. This is a free event full of smooth jazz. 7-9pm. Free.
Elements Public House Trivia (&Taco) Tuesdays Quiz fans of Redmond: bring the crew this week for UKB live trivia & more! Delicious menu favorites, brews, cocktails, plus Taco Tuesday menu! Players will compete for gift card prizes or play just for fun. Bring good vibes and a pen. 6:30pm. Free.
Initiative Brewing - The Hub Bingo at Initiative in Redmond! Randy is hosting Central Oregon’s “semi-pro” bingo legend, for a fun night with real cash prizes. Great food, cold drinks, and a good time—all while supporting the Redmond Senior Center! 5:30-7:30pm. Free.
Mountain Burger Trivia Tuesdays Trivia Tuesday at Mountain Burger! Free to play! Prizes & fun every Tuesday! 7:30-9pm. Free.
Silver Moon Brewing Avenue Army Since exploding onto the San Diego music scene in 2016, Avenue Army has been relentlessly carving out their place in the heart of modern rock. 6-9pm. $12.24
The Glow Pad Bend Ecstatic Dance A weekly free-form dance and movement space with live Dj’s and setlist curators who craft music journeys which inspire embodied explorations. Open to everyone 12+. Non-alcoholic. Not a class, no steps to learn, conversation-free and shoe-free dance floor. 7:30-9:30pm. $20.
The Open Arts Center Comedy Writing for Performance Workshop Always wanted to perform comedy but didn’t know where to start? Seasoned comic? In this event, the group explores core ideas of creating original comedy and practice bringing them to life in a safe, supportive, collaborative community. 6-8pm. $45.
Volcanic Theatre Pub Karaoke Karaoke in the pub of VTP! Every Tuesday, 7pm - late 7pm. Free.
20 Wednesday
Austin Mercantile Paul Eddy From Beatles to Sinatra, local solo artist Paul Eddy sings hits through the decades, plus originals. 5-7pm. Free.
The Capitol Karaoke Drink specials! Air guitars! People should definitely check this out for themselves. 8pm-1am. Free.
The Commonwealth Pub Geoffrey Louis Koch Geoffrey Louis Koch (pronounced “Jeffrey Louis Coke”) blends folk, atmospheric indie rock, alt country, and cinematic textures, drawing comparisons to Bon Iver, Gregory Alan Isakov, Elliott Smith, and Wilco. 7:30-9:30pm. Free.
The Coyote Free Line Dance Lessons Free beginner-friendly line dance lessons with instructor Alex Reininger. Learn two fun dances in one hour—no experience needed! 7-8pm. Free.
Craft Kitchen and Brewery Comedy Open Mic Night Open mic comedy on Bend’s NE side. Come down, eat some BBQ, drink some drinks, and be prepared to laugh. 7:30-9pm. Free.
Dogwood At The Pine Shed Tropical Latin Dance Party A night of sizzling rhythms and spicy moves at Dogwood at The Pine Shed. Get ready to dance to the hottest Latin beats by DJ SOLO. This event is perfect for everyone. 7-10pm. Free.
Hosmer Bar Trivia Night Brainy banter and cold drinks! Whether one is a seasoned quiz champ or just in it for the laughs, gather the crew and test everyone’s knowledge! 7-9pm. Free.
Portello Lounge Music Bingo Music Bingo is hosted by the always entertaining Rachel Fishman, who keeps the crowd singing and laughing all night! It’s the perfect bonus to a night out enjoying great food, drinks and good company at Portello! 6:30-8:30pm. Free.
Prost! - Bend Wednesday Trivia Fun at Prost! Bend 7pm UKB Trivia in Bend is an ongoing event on Wednesdays. Useless Knowledge Bowl is a live trivia & more, no AI here. People can team up with friends for some casual fun, there’s no fee to play, Authentic food favorites, biers and more. Feed the brain and the belly! 7-9pm. Free.
MUSIC
Cascade Chorale’s Sing the POPS The Cascade Chorale presents Sing the POPS, a vibrant and uplifting concert celebrating America’s 250th anniversary. May 16, 7pm and May 17, 3pm. First Presbyterian Church, 230 NE Ninth St., Bend. Contact: 541-550-0010. cascadechorale@ gmail.com. Free/$20 suggested donation.
Central Oregon Symphony’s Spring Concert Series Honoring Maestro
Michael Gesme’s Final Performances
Celebrate spring with the Central Oregon Symhony as Maestro Michael Gesme leads his final concerts. This vibrant program honors his legacy with color, emotion, and orchestral brilliance. May 16, 2-4 and 7:30-9:30pm and May 17, 2-4pm. Mountain View High School Auditorium, 2755 NE 27th St., Bend. Free with membership.
HDCM Celebrity Recital: Peter Wiley & Anna Polonsky The HDCM Celebrity Recitals series returns, welcoming back legendary cellist Peter Wiley and brilliant Steinway Artist Anna Polonsky. Frequent recital partners, Wiley and Polonsky are two charismatic virtuosos who captivate audiences wherever they perform. May 15, 7:30-9:30pm. Contact: 54-1306-3988. mark@ highdesertchambermusic.com. $65.
Piano Flow Explore at Smith Rock
Central Oregon local & award-winning Pianist Paula Dreyer offers an unforgettable musical journey. Paula’s dreamy compositions will guide attendees through a journey of sound and nature, where the ordinary transforms into the extraordinary. May 17, 3-4:30pm. Smith Rock State Park, Terrebonne OR, Smith Rock SP, Terrebonne. Contact: 541-633-6025. info@pauladreyer.com. $20-$40.
Redmond Community Choir Spring Concert The Redmond Community Choir presents “Americana - Celebrating our Musical Roots”. The concert will be held at 4 PM at the Redmond High School auditorium. Donations are encouraged! May 17, 4-6pm. Redmond High School Auditorium, 675 SW Rimrock Way., Redmond. Contact: redmondsingers@gmail. com. Free.
Sonic Bliss ~ Breath & Soundbath Event This blended event combines Breath & Sound to create a potent, transformational healing journey. 432 Hz crystal bowls, didgeridoo and more. Register online or at the door! May 17, 6-7:15pm. Unity Spiritual Community of Central Oregon, 63645 Scenic Drive, Bend. Contact: 808887-0830. lisacswisher@gmail.com. $28.52.
DANCE
Adult Ballet Class Learn or rediscover the art of ballet on Tuesday nights! Adult Ballet is an open-level class for adult learners and dancers. Tuesdays, 12:30-1:30 and 6:45-7:45pm. Acadamie De Ballet Classique, 1900 NE 3rd St #104, Bend. Contact: 541-382-4055. dance@abcbend. com. Price varies.
Adult Jazz Dance Community Class
Intermediate-level adult jazz drop-in dance classes. Friendly, supportive atmosphere. Get your dance on! Fridays, 12:15-1:45pm. Acadamie De Ballet Classique, 1900 NE 3rd St #104, Bend. Contact: 408-857-6773. jcliff@gmail.com. $10.
Argentine Tango Class & Practice
Tango in Bend will teach classes dedicated to the Milonga style of Tango, a rhythmic and playful characterized by rapid rhythm and small steps. No partner needed. Wed, May 13, 6:30-9:30pm, Wed, May 20, 6:30-9:30pm and Wed, May 27, 6:30-9:30pm. Sons of Norway Hall, 549 NW Harmon Blvd., Bend. Contact: 818-207-1363. info@ tangoinbend.com. $10.
Lindy Hop Social Dance and Lessons A vintage swing dance turned contemporary global phenomenon. Danced to classic jazz standards, Lindy Hop is an energetic, athletic and goofy way to connect with a partner.6pm, Beyond Basics, (some experience needed) 6:30, Social Dance at 7:15 Sundays, 6-8:30pm. The Space, 63830 Clausen Rd, Bend. Contact: N/A. lindyhopcentral@ gmail.com. $7-$12.
Lost and Found Bellydance Classes
6-week progressive sessions in improvisational bellydance, which covers foundational movements, formations and finger cymbals. A fun and welcoming space. No experience necessary. Studio C, upstairs; Entry door is on the right of the building Mondays, 7-8pm. Through June 29. Terpsichorean Dance Studio, 1601 NW Newport Ave, Bend. Contact: 541-420-5416. lostandfoundbellydance@gmail.com. $75.
Partner & Line Dance Lessons at The Coyote Partner dance lessons 6–7 p.m. with Seth and McKenna, line dance lessons 7–8 p.m. with Alex. No partner or experience needed— come solo and connect. Enjoy great energy, a spacious dance floor, food, drinks, mocktails, pool tables, TVs, and a welcoming atmosphere. Wednesdays, 6-8pm. The Coyote, 910 NW Harriman St., Bend. Contact: mindfulmotionmentor@ gmail.com. Free.
Tango in Bend Learn and dance Argentine Tango. Whether a beginner or an experienced dancer, the community welcomes all. First class is free! 6:30 - Intermediate Class. 7:15 - Beginners Class. 8:30. Wednesdays, 6:30-9:30pm. Sons of Norway Hall, 549 NW Harmon Blvd., Bend. Contact: 818-207-1363. info@tangoinbend.com. $10 class & practice, $5 practice only.
ARTS + CRAFTS
All Levels Wheel Throwing This 5-session course will cover beginner and intermediate wheel throwing techniques. Each class is catered to the student’s needs. The basic pottery process will be covered. Sundays, 10am-1pm. Through May 17. Camp Clay Bend, 147 NE Olney Ave, Bend. Contact: 808-269-9992. kara@campclay.studio. $350.
Art Play Toddlers and preschoolers dive into process-based art through sensory stations, open-ended exploration, and hands-on creative play. Ages 2-5 Thursdays-Saturdays, 10-11am. Two Suns Art Studio + MakerSpace, 70 SW Century Drive, Bend. Contact: 541-892-6471. taylor@ twosunsartstudio.com. $25.
Artist in the Wilds of Oregon Wildlife artist Vivian Olsen is featuring her work at Premiere Property Group through the month of May in her show “Artist in the Wilds of Oregon.” Meet Vivian during the First Friday Art walk, 5-7 p.m. Fri, May 1, 5-7pm and Mondays-Fridays, 9am-5pm. Through May 29. Premiere Property Group, 25 NW Minnesota Ave., Bend. Contact: 541-241-6860. Free.
Beginner Crochet Workshop Series
This 3-week Crochet Workshop Series teaches participants crochet basic stitches, how to read a pattern, and how to crochet an amigurumi project. All materials are provided, expect 5-10 hours of homework. Sundays, 4:30-6:30pm. Through May 24. Two Suns Art Studio + MakerSpace, 70 SW Century Drive, Bend. Contact: maracrochetsminis@gmail.com. $160.
Paul Eddy will bring folk-indie textures to the Austin Mercantile May 20.
Austin Mercantile
Beginner to Intermediate Handbuilding This multi-week ceramics class guides students through the process of creating functional serving ware. Throughout this class students will cover best practices, equipment demos, refinement of pieces and more. Thursdays, 5:308:30pm. Through May 21. Camp Clay Bend, 147 NE Olney Ave, Bend. Contact: kara@campclay. studio. $350.
Blacksmithing 101: Forge a Pair of Wall Hooks DIY craft of shaping, tapering, splitting, twisting, and punching steel to create art, jewelry, and functional items. In this class participants will learn the skills needed to begin forging steel in true maker fashion. May 12, 5:307:30pm and May 13, 5:30-7:30pm. DIY Cave, 444 SE Ninth St. Suite 150, Bend. Contact: 541-3882283. classes@diycave.com. $239.
Bladesmithing 202: Forge a Knife Blade with a Wood Handle - 3 Weeks Forge a knife using high-carbon steel and finish with a custom wood handle. Forge both blade and tang to shape, finish-grind, harden and draw the temper, and rivet hardwood panels for the handle. Go home with a knife! Mon, May 18, 5:307:30pm, Tue, May 19, 5:30-7:30pm and Wed, May 20, 5:30-7:30pm. DIY Cave, 444 SE Ninth St. Suite 150, Bend. Contact: 541-388-2283. classes@ diycave.com. $479.
Cabinet Making 101 This hands-on class introduces the foundational techniques of cabinet making and gives participants the skills to confidently design and build cabinets—from simple workshop storage to fine furniture. Discover the principles of solid cabinet design that have been used for centuries. May 19, 6-8:30pm. DIY Cave, 444 SE Ninth St. Suite 150, Bend. Contact: 541388-2283. classes@diycave.com. $189. Charcoal Series Drop in Charcoal Drawing Lessons. Sign up for just one or optimize the experience by signing up for all three. Every 7 days, 12-12:45pm. Bend Tea and Art Lounge, 1024 NW Bond St, Suite 101, Bend. Contact: info@bendteal.com. $15-$45.
Crochet Café Fancy Nancy will be the host at Fancywork Yarn Shop. This 2-hour hook session is designed specifically to foster community among the crochet crew. All skill levels are welcome in this weekly drop-in event. Thursdays, 1-3pm. Fancywork Yarn Shop, 200 NE Greenwood Avenue, Bend. Contact: 541-323-8686. hello@fancywork.com. Free.
Date Night - Weld Together! It’s Date Night Welding Workshop — sparks included! This class is all about trying something new together while learning real welding skills in a supportive, beginner-friendly environment. May 19, 6-8pm. DIY Cave, 444 SE Ninth St. Suite 150, Bend. Contact: 541-388-2283. classes@diycave.com. $99.
DIY Drop-In Get creative at FREAK’N ART every Saturday and Sunday! Attendees can drop in or reserve a spot to make a fun project—no experience or supplies needed. Attendees will enjoy a relaxed two-hour session. Come with friends and let creativity shine!. Saturdays-Sundays, 11:30am-5:30pm. Through June 28. FREAK’N ART, 1265 NW Wall st., Bend. Contact: 541 508 7438. hellofreaknart@gmail.com. $25.
Printing in Color: Reduction Printmaking Workshop with Tangled Roots In this level 2 printmaking workshop, students will learn to create prints through the form of reduction printmaking— a multi-layered printing process that uses a single block to create a multi-colored print. All tools and materials are provided. May 13, 5:30-7:30pm. Two Suns Art Studio + MakerSpace, 70 SW Century Drive, Bend. Contact: 503-863-4242. tangledroots. connect@gmail.com. $65.
Sew Club Sew Club hosts this fun, focused studio time on the first and third Monday every month! Work on projects with expert guidance from Sabrina of Bend Alterations (45+ years’ experience). First and Third Monday of every month, 5:30-7pm. FREAK’N ART, 1265 NW Wall st., Bend. Contact: 541-508-7438. hellofreaknart@gmail.com. $40.
Sew Easy: Pajamas for Beginners
Learn sewing basics in six days. Participants will cover pattern cutting, machine threading, stitching, and finishing. Small class (4 students) ensures personalized instruction from an experienced teacher. Materials provided and beginner friendly. Tuesdays, 5:30-7:15pm. Through June 9. FREAK’N ART, 1265 NW Wall st., Bend. Contact: 541-508-7438. hellofreaknart@gmail.com. $300. Stained Glass 101: Poppy Suncatcher2 Week Workshop In this hands-on class, participants create a medium-sized stained glass poppy suncatcher. Start by choosing a prepared poppy pattern, then learn each step of the copper foil stained glass technique, including cutting and shaping glass, grinding, foiling and soldering. Mon, May 11, 6-8pm and Mon, May 18, 6-8pm. DIY Cave, 444 SE Ninth St. Suite 150, Bend. Contact: 541-388-2283. classes@diycave.com. $219.
Stamp Making Learn the art of lineocut with Rachel and make handmade stamps to take home! May 13, 6-8pm. Bend Tea and Art Lounge, 1024 NW Bond St, Suite 101, Bend. Contact: info@bendteal.com. $50.
Stories of Our Favorite Places: Landscapes From the Heart Plein Air Painters of Oregon presents paintings of places dear to the artists’ hearts. Each piece includes a story about the pictured landscape, providing viewers a rare glimpse into the intimate relationship between painter and landscape. Mondays-Fridays, 1-4pm and Sundays, 11am-1pm. Through June 28. Nancy McGrath Green Gallery, 18139 Cottonwood Rd, Sunriver. Free.
Tumalo Art Co.—Best Fine Art Sale Ever! Returns Tumalo Art Co. is back! 14 artists are clearing out their studios, with deals on art—up to 50% off. This is your chance to snag the art you love! May 16, 9am-3pm. Grace First Lutheran Church, 2265 NW Shevlin Park Rd., Bend. Contact: https://tumaloartco.com/artist-news-5/. Free.
Youth Wheel and Handbuilding This sixweek class is for teens who have already fallen in love with clay or who want to try something new! This class has only 6 students so each child will receive one-on-one attention and care. Wednesdays-Noon Through May 20. Camp Clay Bend, 147 NE Olney Ave, Bend. Contact: 808-269-9992. kara@campclay.studio. $380.
PRESENTATIONS + EXHIBITS
City of Bend Public Works Grand Opening See how Art (Works)! Public Works Campus celebrates community, art and the people who keep the city moving. Explore public art supported by 1% for the arts and meet the artists. Enjoy family-friendly activities. Food trucks and more! May 14, 4-7pm. City of Bend Public Works Campus, 21051 NE Talus Place, Bend. Contact: info@scalehouse.org. Free.
Companion Planting and Soil Basics
Healthy soil and smart plant partnerships are the foundation of every thriving garden. Participants will learn the basics of soil building, composting, and how to pair crops for resilience, productivity, and flavor. May 17, 10-11am. Larkspur Community Center Event Room, 1600 SE Reed Market Rd,, Bend. Contact: 541-312-1029. laurelh@ deschuteslibrary.org. Free.
Distinguished Visiting Writer: Carter Sickels OSU-Cascades holds a public reading by Carter Sickels, recipient of Lambda Literary’s Duggins Prize. His acclaimed novels, including The Prettiest Star, explore identity and community and have earned national recognition. May 14, 6:30pm. Edward J. Ray Hall, Charles McGrath Family Atrium, 1500 SW Chandler Ave, Bend. Free.
Drip Irrigation Conversion Workshop
This is a hands-on workshop all about converting traditional watering systems to drip irrigation. Participants will learn how it works, why it’s ideal for Central Oregon gardens and how to retrofit an existing garden bed or sprinkler system. May 16, 8:30-11am. Franklin’s Corner Community Garden, NE 9th and NE Franklin, Bend. Contact: 541-316-0080. info@worthygardenclub.org. Free.
From Ranch to Runway: An Evening with Jeanne Carver Jeanne Carver, founder of Shaniko Wool Company has stewarded land in Wasco County for more than thirty years, developing a deep relationship with the high desert. Her work has been featured on runways, in scientific publications, and in the official Olympic Team USA uniforms. May 18, 5:30-7pm. Pine Meadow Ranch Center for Arts & Agriculture, 68467 Three Creek Rd., Sisters. Contact: 541904-0700. arts@roundhousefoundation.org. $10.
Made In Bend Tour 2026 The Made in Bend Tour offers a rare opportunity to go behind the scenes of some of Bend’s most impactful businesses that are shaping the region’s economic future. May 14, 7:30am-Noon. EDCO, 705 SW Bonnet Way Suite 1000, Bend. Contact: 541-3883236. info@edcoinfo.com. $52.95.
May at the Museum: Interviews with Our Past “Interviews with Our Past,” a one-ofa-kind program that brings local history to life through a live, news-style broadcast. Presented with support from the Crook County Historical Society and the Friends of the Crook County Library. May 15, 6-8pm. A.R. Bowman Museum - Community Room, 246 N. Main St., Prineville. Contact: 541-447-3715. sean.briscoe@crookcountyor.gov. Free.
Research Findings and Networking: Post-Occupancy Evaluations in Affordable Multifamily Projects This is a free event with catered bites and an engaging in-person discussion with Energy Trust of Oregon’s latest Net Zero Fellow, Maggie Harris of Holst Architecture. Maggie will share her team’s research. May 14, 4:30-6pm. The Breakroom, 1055 “B Northwest Newport Avenue, Bend. Contact: 1-877-467-0930. newbuildings@energytrust.org. Free.
Stop Promoting People Into Failure
Whether your organization is early in building a promotion process—or refining an existing one—you’ll leave with actionable ideas to help your people succeed in their next role. This is an online webinar. May 19, 10-11am. Contact: 808421-8855. anthony@anthonypoponi.com. Free.
Wildfire Home Protection Strategies
This is a free, expert-led training to support community members in making fire-smart decisions for properties. Workshop objectives include: local wildfire history, fire science and behavior, home hardening techniques and more. Registration required. May 19, 5:30-8pm. Three Rivers Elementary School, 56900 Enterprise Dr., Sunriver, Sunriver. Contact: 541-548-6088. rachel.humpert@oregonstate.edu. Free.
THEATER
Caldera High School Theatre Presents Newsies, the Hit Broadway Musical Caldera High School Theatre presents Disney’s Newsies, a high-energy musical filled with unforgettable songs and dynamic, show-stopping choreography. Featuring 60+ students, a live orchestra, and a large student-built set. Thu, May 7, 7pm, Sat, May 9, 2 and 7pm, Fri, May 15, 7pm and Sat, May 16, 2 and 7pm. Caldera High School, 60925 SE 15th St, Bend, OR 97702, Bend. Contact: 541-355-5177. lindsay.nickerson@bend. k12.or.us. $10 Students,Seniors/$15 Adults.
WORDS
The Artist’s Way: 4-Week Creative Rediscovery Playshop This spring, shake off any creative dullness and rediscover the creative spark. This 4-week Artist’s Way playshop is all about exploring creativity without pressure so artists can find their flow again. Thursdays, 6-7:30pm. Through May 14. Contact: sara@ writersgonewild.com. $147.
Classics Book Club The group will discuss I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou. May 13, 6-7pm. Roundabout Books, 900 NW Mount Washington Dr., #110, Bend. Contact: 541-306-6564. events@roundaboutbookshop. com. Free.
The Craft of Writing Wednesdays Learn the technical nuts and bolts of creative writing one craft element at a time. Bring a notebook, pen/pencil, and an eagerness to learn. Open to fiction, nonfiction, memoir, essay, and experimental writers. Facilitated by Meghan Robins Teeter. Third Wednesday of every month, 7-8:30pm. The Open Arts Center, 999 NE 2nd St, Bend, OR 97701, Bend. Free.
Discussion with Author Peter Richardson Peter Richardson, a journalist and author, will speak at Oregon State University – Cascades about his latest book, “Brand New Beat: The Wild Rise of Rolling Stone Magazine.” Book signing after. Registration required. May 13, 6-7:30pm. Edward J. Ray Hall, Charles McGrath Family Atrium, 1500 SW Chandler Ave, Bend. Free.
Mystery Book Club The club will discuss The Talented Mr. Ripley by Patricia Highsmith. May 20, 6-7pm. Roundabout Books, 900 NW Mount Washington Dr., #110, Bend. Contact: 541-3066564. events@roundaboutbookshop.com. Free.
RAB Middles Book Club The club will discuss The Parker Inheritance by Varian Johnson. May 19, 6-7pm. Roundabout Books, 900 NW Mount Washington Dr., #110, Bend. Contact: 541-306-6564. events@roundaboutbookshop. com. Free.
Recipient of the Lamda Literary Duggins prize, Carter Sickels, will hold a public reading at Edward J. Ray Hall, Charles McGrath Family Atrium on May 14.
OSU Cascades
The Revenge Party, Emily Lynn Paulson Emily Lynn Paulson, bestselling author of “Hey, Hun: Sales, Sisterhood, Supremacy, and the Other Lies Behind Multilevel Marketing,” returns with “The Revenge Party”—a female-driven mystery that’s one part Fatal Attraction, one part Wag the Dog, and one part Mean Girls. May 14, 6:30-7:30pm. Roundabout Books, 900 NW Mount Washington Dr., #110, Bend. Contact: 541-3066564. events@roundaboutbookshop.com. $5.
Writing Wednesdays at the OAC An evening of writing, connection, and creativity. 1st & 3rd Wednesdays: Poetry Workshop; 2nd & 4th Wednesdays: Writing Workshop. Open to adults 18+, all levels welcome. Email: claire@ theopenartscenter.org Wednesdays, 7-8:30pm. The Open Arts Center, 999 NE 2nd Street, Bend. Contact: 978-771-4635. claire@theopenartscenter.org. Free.
ETC.
Wednesday Night Rebuy Tournament 20-minute blind levels with a 10-minute break every hour. Register early to get our early bird bonus for an extra 1/3 starting stack! Unlimited rebuys for the first hour. Late registration ends at 7:10pm. Wednesdays, 6-11pm. Bend Poker Room, 917 NE Greenwood Ave, Bend. Contact: 541-508-9123. bendpokerrroom@gmail.com. $20.
OUTDOOR EVENTS
30th Annual Storm the Stairs The 30th Annual COCC Storm the Stairs run is stair-filled run across COCC’s scenic hillside Bend campus, including through buildings. Open to all skill-levels, this is a great way to explore campus, win a prize. May 19, 5:30-7pm. Central Oregon Community College, 2600 NW College Way, Bend. Contact: 541-383-7794. sports@cocc.edu. Free-$15.
Bend Adult Volleyball Bend Hoops adult open gym volleyball sessions offer players a chance to get together and enjoy some competition. To sign up, go to meetup.com and RSVP. Bring exact change. Sundays, 7-9pm and Saturdays, 7:30pm. Bend Hoops, 1307 NE 1st St, Bend. $10.
CORK Mom Squad This group is open to moms of all running levels! The focus of the group will be to connect with other moms, share advice/information on running while pregnant or with a family and to have fun! Third Sunday of every month, 9-10am. Miller’s Landing Park, 80 NW Riverside Blvd, Bend. Contact: centraloregonrunningklub@gmail.com. Free.t
Free Community Workout This is a free all-levels workout featuring strength training, metabolic conditioning, and a restorative cool-down. Expert coaches provide guidance and modifications to match one’s fitness level. May 16, 8:30-9:30am. Fortitude Fitness Training, 63222 Service Road, Bend. Contact: 541-5160138. Info@FortitudeFitnessTraining.com. Free.
Ladies Climb Night Helping women and non binary folk feel at home in the climbing community. Calling all from seasoned pros to those who have never stepped foot in a harness. Let’s empower each other, conquer new heights, and have a blast while doing it! Tue, March 18, 6:30-8:30pm and Third Tuesday of every month, 6:30-8:30pm. Bend Rock Gym, 1182 SE Centennial Ct., Bend. Contact: 541-944-1989. madeline@ ladiesclimbingcoalition.com. $15.
VOLUNTEER
Become a Business Mentor Help businesses prosper! Share your professional and business expertise. Become a volunteer mentor with SCORE in Central Oregon. Our chapter is growing. Your experience and knowledge will be valued by both new and existing businesses in our community. To apply, call 541 316 0662 or visit centraloregon.score.org/volunteer. Mondays. SCORE Central Oregon, NE Thurston Ave PO Box 6416, Bend. Contact: (541) 316-0662. Free.
Bend ReStore If you want to help make affordable homeownership a reality for individuals and families in Central Oregon, consider volunteering at the Bend ReStore! Ongoing, 9am-5pm. Habitat for Humanity ReStore, 224 NE Thurston Ave., Bend. Contact: 541-312-6709. Volunteer@ brhabitat.org. Free.
Bunny Rescue Needs Volunteers
Looking for more volunteers to help with tidying bunny enclosures, feeding, watering, giving treats, head scratches, play time and fostering. All ages welcome and time commitments are flexible — weekly, monthly or fill-in. Located at the south end of Redmond. Email Lindsey with your interests and availability: wildflowerbunnylove@gmail.com. Ongoing.
Join the Pet Evacuation Team Board
Serving residents and their animals with emergency evacuations and sheltering during disasters. PET is actively seeking compassionate, committed leaders to serve on the board. Tuesdays. Contact: 541-610-6628. deb.k@petevacuationteam.com. Free.
KIDS Center Gala Volunteer Opportunity The KIDS Center is actively recruiting volunteers for its annual fundraiser gala at the Cork & Barrel. Volunteers will help bring hope to Central Oregon children and families. Sign ups are happening now at https://www.corkandbarrel.org/volunteer April 10-July 17. KIDS Center, 1375 NW Kingston Ave., Bend. Free. Mustangs to the Rescue Seeking help with all aspects of horse care. No experience necessary. Mondays-Sundays, 9am-4:30pm. Mustangs to the Rescue, 21670 McGilvray Road, Bend. Contact: 541-330-8943. volunteer@mustangstotherescue.org. Free.
NeighborImpact Support NeighborImpact and its programs! Register as a volunteer, then browse open opportunities. Roles needed: Food Bank, HomeSource, facilities, special events and more! Mondays-Fridays. NeighborImpact Office - Redmond, 2303 SW First St., Redmond. Contact: 541-419-2595. grantj@neighborimpact. org. Free.
Redmond Family Kitchen Dinner Family Kitchen is continuing to provide nutritious meals to anyone in need, now in Redmond! Volunteers prepare dinners and clean up afterward. Email Tori with any questions or sign up here: https:// www.signupgenius.com/go/RedmondDinner Mondays-Fridays, 2-4:30pm. Mountain View Fellowship, 1475 SW 35th St, Redmond. Contact: 631-942-3528. tori@familykitchen.org. Free.
Volunteer CASAs Needed CASA stands for Court Appointed Special Advocate. They are community volunteers who advocate solely for the best interest of children and youth in foster care. Our pre-service training classes are designed to equip you with the knowledge and skills needed to effectively advocate for these children. Ongoing. Rosie Bareis community campus, 1010 NW 14th Street, Bend. Contact: 541-389-1618. enoyes@casaofcentraloregon.org. Free.
Volunteer for Foster Dogs Volunteer to be a dog foster parent! There is a huge need and it is very rewarding, giving you a sense of purpose. Each dog is special. Thursdays. Contact: 458292-8362. HDRescueoregon.com.
Volunteer Project Day - Future Park Site, SE Bend The BPRD natural resources and trails staff and other volunteers will pull weeds, remove trash, close off unofficial trails, and plant native vegetation. This project is located at a future park site in southeast Bend. Volunteers will help with barbed wire removal and litter pickup. Additional details regarding meetup location will be provided prior to the event. May 16, 9am-Noon. Bend Park & Recreation District, 799 SW Columbia St., Bend. Contact: 541-3897275. info@bendparksandrec.org. Free.
Volunteer with St. Vinny’s Food Pantry! Support your neighbors facing food insecurity in Bend! Have a few hours a week, or even one day a month to give? Help us with: client reception, food pickups, deliveries, truck loading & unloading, client pantry help, and pantry stocking. Please apply on our website.. thanks very much! Tuesdays-Thursdays, 9:45am-2pm and Mondays, 1:45-6pm. St. Vincent de Paul, 950 SE 3rd, Bend.
Volunteer with the Oregon Judicial Department’s Citizen Review BoardOregon’s Foster Care Review Program
The Citizen Review Board program of the Oregon Judicial Department engages citizen volunteers in conducting reviews of foster care cases. Aid local courts, save taxpayer money, and provide transparency to a complex and sensitive system. The Deschutes board is expanding and looking for new members! All training provided. Second Wednesday-Thursday of every month. Through Dec. 31. Volunteer, Feed the Masses! Serving anyone who needs nutritious meals in a safe and caring environment. Tons of volunteer needs - servers, cooks, shoppers, and more. Visit familykitchen.org/volunteer to fill out a volunteer interest form. Mondays-Sundays. Family Kitchen, 231 NW Idaho, Bend. Contact: tori@familykitchen.org. Free.
Volunteering in Oregon’s High Desert with ONDA Dedicated to protecting, defending and restoring Oregon’s high desert. Guided, small group, volunteer service trips in some of eastern Oregon’s most remote and beautiful landscapes. Visit onda.org/trips to find the full calendar and descriptions of current volunteer trip offerings. Ongoing.
Volunteers Needed for Humane Society Thrift Store Do you love animals and discovering “new” treasures? Then volunteering at the HSCO Thrift Store is a great way to combine your passions while helping raise funds to provide animal welfare services for the local community. For more information visit the website at www.hsco.org/volunteer. Ongoing. Humane Society Thrift Shop, 61220 S. Highway 97, Bend. Contact: 541-241-3840. abigail@hsco. org.
Weed Warriors Protect the lands from invasive weeds! The volunteer group meets several times a month to help remove non-native weeds like spotted knapweed, teasel, mullein, and Canada thistle from Land Trust protected lands. May 13, 9am-Noon. Camp Polk Meadow Preserve, outside Sisters, Sisters. Contact: 541-330-0017. event@deschuteslandtrust.org. Free.
Wolf Tracking Training This training will cover how to identify wolf tracks and sign, basic field safety, and an overview of wolves in Oregon, including why and where Think Wild monitors them. Participants also gain insight into how tracking data helps inform conservation and management efforts in key landscapes. May 14, 6-8pm. Contact: kylie@thinkwildco.org. Free.
GROUPS + MEETUPS
Activating Resilience This is a virtual workshop. Build the resilience skills needed to stay positive, productive, and professional—even in the most challenging situations. May 20, 9am-Noon. Contact: 808-421-8855. anthony@ anthonypoponi.com. $58.
Bend Chess and Go Club Casual gathering for players of Chess and Go/Baduk/Weiqi. Informal and welcoming to players of all skill levels. We love teaching new people! Thursdays, 6-9pm. Crux Fermentation Project, 50 SW Division St., Bend. Contact: 425-354-8867. leifawiebe@ gmail.com. Free.
BUGS (Bend Ukulele Group) Weekly ukulele jam, open to all levels. Jam and sing along. Free for first timers. Play and sing along with old song favorites and experience the fun of playing this amazing little instrument. Tuesdays, 6-8pm. Pickleball Zone, 63040 NE 18th St., Bend. Contact: 206-707-6337. sherilfoster@yahoo. com. $5.
Central Oregon Returned Peace Corps
Volunteers Meet-Up Food, drinks and unbearably scintillating conversation at The Emerald Loop. May 16, 4-6pm. The Emerald Loop, 1012 SE Cleveland Ste . # 2, Bend. Contact: centraloregonrpcvs@gmail.com. Free.
Connect W’s Munch & Mingle in Bend A gathering where professional women of Central Oregon connect over meaningful conversations. This exclusive event fosters business growth, social networking, and genuine friendships. Registration required. May 14, 11:45am-1pm. Currents at the Riverhouse, 3075 N. Hwy 97, Bend. Contact: 541-410-1894. info@connectw. org. Prices vary.
Conscious Connected Breathwork
This is a transformative evening of awakening, release, and embodied presence through the power of the breath. In this sacred gathering, participants will be guided through Conscious Connected Breathwork—a rhythmic, continuous breathing practice that opens the body, heart, and spirit to deep healing and insight. May 16, 6-8:30pm. Alpine Physical Therapy & Spine Care, 395 SW Bluff Drive, Bend. Contact: 505-3856943. hello@kellyniewellness.com. $23.
Milo Weiler
HANKSHEREVE
THURSDAY MAY 21
THURSDAY MAY 28
MOTEL KALIFORNIA
THURSDAY JUNE 4
THURSDAY JUNE 18
THURSDAY JUNE 11
THURSDAY JUNE 25
MAY 21 - JUNE 25 5 - 8 PM
Welcome to OnPoint Community Credit Union’s Alpenglow Nights — Bend’s free summer concert series at Alpenglow Park! Gather your friends, family, blankets, and lawn chairs for evenings filled with live music, local food and drinks, shopping, and family-friendly fun in one of Bend’s newest community parks.
FOOD
Each week features a live concert alongside a curated marketplace, delicious food vendors, craft beverages, kids activities, and access to the park’s splash pad and play areas. Whether you’re dancing near the stage, relaxing on the lawn, or exploring everything the event has to o er, Alpenglow Nights is the perfect way to spend a summer evening in Central Oregon — and admission is completely free.
Come hungry! Our lineup of local food vendors will be serving up delicious eats all evening long, from savory meals and street food favorites to sweet treats and snacks. Grab dinner, share a bite with friends, or discover a new local favorite while enjoying the music at Alpenglow Nights.
• Adamo’s Carnival Eats
• Beyond Borders Food Truck
• The Bleu Rooster
• The Bob
• The Corndog Company
• Crepe-Oh-Holics
• Dilly Dilly Donuts
• Dippin Dots
• Kona Ice
• The Pizza Cart
• Rico’s Tacos
• Southern Accent
• Travelin Toms Co ee
DRINKS
Grab a drink and kick back at Alpenglow Nights!
We’ll be serving up local beer from Worthy Brewing, cocktails from 503 Distilling, non-alcoholic options, and more each week. Whether you’re sipping a craft brew while listening to live music or cooling o with a refreshing cocktail on the lawn, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
• Cider from 2Towns Ciderhouse
• Cocktails from 503 Distilling
• Worthy Beer
THURSDAY MAY 21
THE BANDS
Sweet Red & The Hot Rod Billies |
5-6pm
Sweet Red & The Hot Rod Billies are a high-energy rockabilly band from Central Oregon, led by powerhouse vocalist Anna “Sweet Red,” whose lifelong love of 1950s music and vintage style shines on stage. Inspired by legends like Wanda Jackson, Sweet Red delivers sassy, soulful performances with classically trained vocals and a gritty edge, backed by a tight, fun-loving band that keeps crowds dancing.
Hank Shereve | 6:30-8pm
The Hank Shreve Band is known for their unique blend of blues and soulful originals. Fronted by the multi talented Hank Shreve, whose musical journey began at the age of 8 with the harmonica. Hank’s mastery extends to vocals, keyboards, lap steel, dobro, guitar, and drums.
THURSDAY JUNE 4
THURSDAY MAY 28
HANKSHEREVE
THURSDAY MAY 21
HANKSHEREVE
The Brandon Campbell Trio | 5-6pm
THURSDAY JUNE 4
THEBRANDON
CAMPBELL T RIO
The Rusty Frets | 5-6pm
The Rusty Frets are a rising American reggae band from Bend, Oregon, blending positive, dance-driven reggae with a Pacific Northwest edge. Known for their high-energy live shows, The Rusty Frets have headlined regional festivals including Little Woody Fest and Bend’s Summer, Fall, and Winter Fests, and have appeared at the Oregon and Boise Reggae Festivals.
THURSDAY JUNE 11
The Brandon Campbell Trio delivers a dark, swinging take on Gypsy jazz rooted in the legacy of Django Reinhardt, blending virtuosic guitar work with driving rhythm and thunderous upright bass. Drawing from backgrounds in punk, post-rock, busking, and West Coast touring, the trio channels raw DIY energy into propulsive, dance-floor-ready grooves laced with mystery and humor. Their sound balances precision and grit, fusing old-world swing with a modern edge shaped by decades in underground music scenes. Based in Bend, Oregon, the trio’s chemistry comes alive both on record and on stage, where their infectious rhythm and intensity keep audiences moving.
Sabroso | 6:30-8pm
THURSDAY JUNE 18
THURSDAY MAY 21
MOTEL KALIFORNIA
Latin to Funk and everything between. “Sabroso”, meaning flavorful in Spanish. Dance floors will move and groove to the sophisticated Latin rhythms and steady funky soul pulse of Sabroso.
THURSDAY JUNE 25
Ghosts in the Clover | 6:30-8pm
Ghosts in the Clover is a rebel-folk band rooted in the fight for the marginalized, the silenced, and the disavowed. Our songs are shaped by loss, resistance, exile, and perseverance.
THURSDAY JUNE 4
THERUSTYFRETS
THURSDAY JUNE 18
SWEET RED & TH E HOT ROD BILLIES
THURSDAY
MOTEL KALIFOR
THURSDAY MAY 21
THURSDAY JUNE 11
The Electric Street Sign | 5-6pm
THURSDAY MAY 28
The Electric Street Sign is a high-energy four-piece band led by Joe Martin, whose soulful vocals and rhythmic guitar set the tone for an unforgettable live show. Backed by Paul Streichan’s electrifying lead guitar, Logan Anderson’s driving drums and Andrew Bell’s groove-forward bass, the band delivers a dynamic sound packed with rich harmonies and infectious rhythm. With seasoned musicianship and undeniable stage chemistry, The Electric Street Sign brings versatility, passion and crowd-pleasing energy to every performance.
Motel Kalifornia | 6:30-8pm
THURSDAY JUNE 4
THURSDAY MAY 28
Imagine a tribute band that specializes in capturing the essence of the Eagles, Creedence Clearwater Revival, and other iconic bands from the 1970s. This group not only pays homage to the Eagles’ signature harmonies and rock sound, but also brings to life Creedence Clearwater Revival’s swamp rock and other classic hits from that era. Motel Kalifornia crafts a nostalgic experience for fans, blending the smooth, laid-back vibes of the Eagles with the gritty, energetic spirit of Creedence and similar bands.
THURSDAY
Race to the Light | 5-6pm
MOTEL KALIFORNIA
Race To The Light is a Jazz Funk Fusion band out of Tacoma, Washington. The band’s signature rock guitar solos, jazz influenced keys, and powerful vocalists are all tied together by their charismatic showmanship & soul-empowering songwriting. Race To The Light’s musical flavor is undoubtedly unique and authentic.
Object Heavy | 6:30-8pm
THURSDAY JUNE 25
Color Red Artist Object Heavy is Humboldt County’s hardest hitting soul sensation. The band is led by the nuanced and powerful voice of Richard Love, alongside explosive, tasteful keyboardist Brian Swislow, masterful guitarist Rich Kearns. You’ll find rock steady drummer Julien Fritz in the loop.
THURSDAY JUNE 11
THURSDAY JUNE 18
THURSDAY JUNE 11
Leadbetter & Moore | 5-6pm
THURSDAY JUNE 18
THURSDAY JUNE 25
Leadbetter Band was born in 2017, featuring Eric’s original songs. Their music style is vast and diverse. With inspiration from vintage rock sounds sprinkled with tasteful jam sections, to a unique contemporary eclectic melting pot of songwriting styles. The rhythm section is groovy, featuring Aaron Moore on bass and vocals, and Kaleb Kelleher on the drums and back up vocals.
Bang, Bang Experience | 6:30-8pm
THURSDAY JUNE 25
Bang Bang Experience is a 7-piece brass band from Portland, OR playing the music of trumpet player, Sam Dechenne. Inspired by the sounds of international brass bands and Jazz ensembles, Funk, Pop and Reggae horn sections, West African and Latin American drumming, they bring an exciting and interactive experience to every stage.
THURSDAY JUNE 25
LEADBETTER & MOORE
RACE TO THE LIGH T
ELECTRIC ST REET SIGN
End Cleaning Out
FAMILY FUN ZONE
Bring the whole family and make a night of it at Alpenglow Park. Kids can enjoy a dedicated play area featuring bounce houses, lawn games, and other fun activities throughout the evening, while parents relax and take in the music. The park’s splash pad will also be running, making it the perfect place for little ones to cool o , play, and burn o some energy during the show.
KIDS GLOW RUN: LIGHT UP THE NIGHT!
Kick o the Alpenglow Nights concert series with a burst of energy, laughter, and glowing fun at our very first Kids Glow Run! Join us on Thursday, May 21, 2026 at 5:00 PM for a family-friendly run filled with music, excitement, and glow-themed fun before the evening concert begins.
Kids are encouraged to wear their brightest neon colors and glow gear as they run, dance, and celebrate the start of summer at Alpenglow Park. After the run, stick around to enjoy live music, food vendors, the Family Fun Zone, and the park’s splash pad during the concert festivities.
REGISTER: runsignup.com/Race/OR/Bend/KidsGlowRun
MARKETPLACE
• Aupair Care
• Bahko Eyewear
• Baked by Kaiclectic
• Children’s Museum of Central Oregon
• Creatrix
• Designer Baths & Kitchens, LLC
• Mountain Dogs Pet Resort
• Om Gaia Tree Designs
• Peak Euro
• Pine & Prism Wellness Collective
• Redefine Learning Academy
• Renewal By Andersen
• Sparkle Strands
Take a stroll through our curated marketplace featuring local makers, artists, and small businesses from around Central Oregon. Browse handmade goods, art, jewelry, apparel, specialty products, and more while supporting local creatives. The marketplace is the perfect place to shop, explore, and discover something unique between sets.
• Sticks and Stones Gems
• Sunny Rusty 3D Art
After all, we live here too. For more than 90 years, OnPoint has been part of the Pacific Northwest, helping people from all walks of life reach their financial goals. Visit one of our nearly 60 branches to explore the tools and resources that help you, your family, and your community thrive. We take pride in our
Visit your local branch or learn more at onpointcu.com/community-giving
Drop-in Community Song Circle Join us for a fun, uplifting Song Circle where all voices are welcome! This is a joyful, judgment-free space to breathe, connect, and experience the magic of singing together. A Song Circle is more than singing—it is community, nourishment, and joy. • No music-reading is necessary. Third Saturday of every month, 10am-Noon. Unity Spiritual Community, 63645 Scenic Dr, Bend. Contact: 6505757673. hhdrumcircles@gmail.com. $10-20 suggested donation (no one turned away for lack of funds).
Marijuana Anonymous Marijuana Anonymous is a fellowship of people who share the experience, strength and hope with each other that we may solve our common problem and help others to recover from marijuana addiction. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop using marijuana. Entrance on Staats St. Mondays, 5:30-6:30pm. Bend Church, 680 NW Bond Street, Bend. Contact: 541-633-6025. curbdaherb@gmail.com. Free.
Paint and Sip at Teal Tea and Art Lounge A friendly local artist hosts some painting and sipping fun! No pressure, just good vibes and a relaxed atmosphere. This event is two-hour guided event with materials provided. May 19, 6-8pm. Teal Tea & Art Lounge, 1024 NW Bond St. Ste101, Bend. Contact: 805-801-8328. chalkedcreative@gmail.com. $48.
Rally League Night This event features ping-pong and foosball leagues! At the first few meetings, the group will have round robin play, gauge interest and determine league formats. Wednesdays, 5-8pm. Rally Recreation, 549 NW York Dr, Bend. Contact: 541-241-8581. info@ rallyrecreation.com. $8-$10.
Scrabble Club Meet upstairs. Club uses the 7th edition of the Scrabble Players Dictionary. All levels welcome. Wednesdays, 6-8:30pm. Market of Choice, 115 NW Sisemore St, Bend. Contact: 828-707-4390. testudine2002@yahoo.com. Free. Singles Speed Dating (Ages 50ish and up) Get ready to meet new friends and maybe meet someone special at this Speed Dating event for those aged 50+! Hosted by a professional matchmaker. May 18, 6-8pm. Stoller Wine Bar Bend, 555 NW Arizona Ave., Bend. Contact: 406672-3861. info@epiphanymatch.com. $10.
Speed Dating at the Coyote in Bend (Ages 21-39ish) Speed dating for singles 21-39ish with Epiphany Match + Mckenna at Coyote! Meet singles, sip, snack, and spark a real connection. May 14, 6-8pm. The Coyote, 910 NW Harriman St., Bend. Contact: 406-672-3861. info@epiphanymatch.com. $10.
Speed Dating for Singles (Ages 40+) Speed Dating: Meet fun, like-minded singles in a relaxed, welcoming setting! Enjoy laughter, great conversations & real connections. May 13, 6-8pm. Speed Dating: Meet fun, like-minded singles in a relaxed, welcoming setting! May 13, 6-8pm. Testimony Wine Bar, 307 NW Sixth St., Redmond. Contact: 406-672-3861. info@epiphanymatch.com. $10.
Women’s Cancer Support Group
We are a group of women cancer survivors providing support and information to those newly diagnosed with cancer and/or undergoing treatment. We are here for you. Thursdays, 1-3pm. First Presbyterian Church, 230 NE Ninth St., Bend. Contact: judyerickso@gmail.com. Free.
Yoga Wall 6-Week Series Yoga Wall provides gentle support that to feel open, balanced, and strong. This welcoming series realigns the spine and pelvis, eases tension and more. Thursdays, 6:30-7:45pm and Thursdays, 6:30-7:45pm. Through May 14. Free Spirit Yoga + Ninja + Play, 320 SW Powerhouse Drive, Suite 150, Bend. Contact: 541-241-3919. info@freespiritbend.com. $144.
FUNDRAISING
Casablanca Gala Dress to enchant, don a mask, for a night that makes a lasting difference for the children in foster care in the community. Enjoy a beautifully prepared plated dinner, a fully hosted bar, a wine wall pull, spirited live and silent auctions, and a decadent dessert. May 16, 5-9pm. Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Central Oregon, 61980 Skyline Ranch Rd, Bend, OR 97703, Bend. Contact: 541-640-1095. development@casaofcentraloregon.org. $150.
Crush Cancer: The Substitutes! Rock the afternoon away after the Crush Cancer trail run with The Substitutes at Faith Hope & Charity Vineyards! These rock veterans have been defending your right to rock since 1996. May 16, 2-5pm. Faith, Hope & Charity Vineyards, 70450 NW Lower Valley Dr., Terrebonne. Contact: 541526-5075. events@fhcvineyards.com. $10.
Latino Community Association
Giveback Day 10% of all sales back to Latino Community Association all day! Come grab some delicious food and help support! May 20, 11:30am-8pm. Mountain Burger, 2747 NW Crossing Dr., Bend. Contact: 541-668-7177. info@ mountainburgerbend.com. Free.
NAMI Walks Central Oregon NAMI Walks is an annual mental health awareness walk and fundraiser to help people affected by mental illness. NAMI’s free programs and vital advocacy work help those affected across Deschutes, Jefferson and Crook Counties. May 17, 9am. Pioneer Park - Bend, 1565 NW Wall St, Bend. Free.
Venture Crew 541 Giveback Day 10% of all sales back to Venture Crew 541 all day! Come grab some delicious food and help support! May 13, 11:30am-8pm. Mountain Burger, 2747 NW Crossing Dr., Bend. Contact: 541-668-7177. info@mountainburgerbend.com. Free.
EVENTS + MARKETS
Elevation Farmers Market Food, handmade goods, music and the good ol’ feeling of community. Shop and support local makers and farmers. Fridays, 3-7pm. Through Oct. 30. Elevation Bend, 61334 S U.S. Highway 97, Bend. Free.
Fairy Land Garden Party Enjoy an afternoon of springtime charm with live plant arrangements available for purchase, flower crowns, refreshing mimosas, and light bites. May 14, 2-4pm. Touchmark at Pilot Butte, 1125 NE Watt Way, Bend. Contact: 458-256-0619. Free.
Plant Sale at Pine Meadow Ranch Pine Meadow Ranch holds a Plant Sale celebrating the beauty and diversity of locally grown plants in Central Oregon. May 16, 10am-1pm. Pine Meadow Ranch Center for Arts & Agriculture, 68467 Three Creek Rd., Sisters. Contact: 541-904-0700. arts@roundhousefoundation.org. Free.
Redmond Farmers Market Peruse and shop for some goods from local vendors and farmers. The Friday Farmers Market runs from May through August. Fridays, 3-7pm. Through Aug. 28. Centennial Park, Evergreen, Between 7th and 8th St., Redmond. Free.
FAMILY + KIDS
Animal-Mask Making for Teens Time to tap into your wild side! Using an adjustable ball cap the group will build, sculpt, and bring to life your favorite animal, real or imagined with simple everyday materials. Ages 13-18. Wednesdays, 5-6:30pm. Through May 13. The Open Arts Center, 999 NE 2nd St, Bend, OR 97701, Bend. Contact: 978-771-4635. claire@theopenartscenter.org. $100.
Art for Pre-school Class A class designed just for preschoolers ages 3–5! Each month features new themes and includes hands-on art projects, games, poems, story time, sensory-based pretend play and fun! Tuesdays-Thursdays, 10am-Noon. Wondery Art + Adventure School, 19570 Amber Meadow Dr Suite 110, Bend. Contact: 434-603-0301. julie@wonderyschool.com. Starting at $45.
Art Play Toddlers and preschoolers dive into process-based art through sensory stations, open-ended exploration, and hands-on creative play. With rotating themes and art stations each week, children develop independence and enhance fine motor skills. Thursdays-Fridays, 10-11am. Through June 12. Two Suns Art Studio + MakerSpace, 70 SW Century Drive, Bend. Contact: 541-892-6471. Briony@twosunsartstudio. com. $21.
Baby Ninja 6-Week Series Classes include exploration through soft-obstacle Ninja Warrior courses to develop coordination and balance skills. Plus yoga fun, songs, parachute play and bubbles! For ages 10 - 24 months old Mondays, 9:30-10:15am, Tuesdays, 9-9:45am and Wednesdays, 10:30-11:15am. Through May 13. Free Spirit Yoga + Ninja + Play, 320 SW Powerhouse Drive, Suite 150, Bend. Contact: 541-241-3919. info@freespiritbend.com. $134.
Balloons with Tyler at Initiative! Things get a little weird—in the best way. A balloon artist creates full-blown masterpieces right at visitors’ tables: dragons, aliens, and much more. Technically for kids, but adults get just as into it. Tips encouraged. Wednesdays, 5:30-7:30pm. Initiative Brewing - The Hub, 424 NW Fifth St., Redmond. Contact: 541-527-4380. followtherabbit@initiativebrew.com. Free.
Breakthrough T1D Walk This is a 1.5 mile walk for type 1 diabetics, family and friends. The event supports research and treatment for T1D plus supports those living with this life changing condition. May 17, 1-3:30pm. Drake Park, 777 NW Riverside Blvd., Bend. Contact: 360-3534630. rhodges@Breakthrought1d.org. Free. Cards & Collectibles Show This all-ages event brings together collectors, gamers, and pop culture fans for a full day of buying, selling, trading, and exploring. Over 120 vendor tables to browse trading cards like Pokémon, sports cards, Magic, One Piece, Yu-Gi-Oh!, and Disney Lorcana, along with video games, comics, LEGO, vintage toys, and more! May 16, 9am-4pm. Deschutes County Fair & Expo Center, 3800 SW Airport Way, Redmond, Redmond. Contact: 530-356-1296. adrian@centraloregoncardshow. com. $10.
Dynos Climbing Club Dynos Climb Club is designed for youth climbers a little climbing experience who are looking for a fun and educational climbing program. Classes are all in BEA’s youth specific bouldering facility. This is for grades first through fifth. Saturdays, 10-11:30am. Through June 6. Bend Endurance Acaddmy, 222 Southeast Reed Market Road, BEND. $268.
Family Art Play This is a special, family edition of our most popular class, Art Play! An open-exploration art and sensory experience designed for ages 9 months-6 years, with older siblings and high sensory seekers always welcome. Sibling discounts available at checkout. Dress for mess! Wednesdays, 4-5pm. Through June 10. Two Suns Art Studio + MakerSpace, 70 SW Century Drive, Bend. Contact: (541) 8926471. Briony@twosunsartstudio.com. $21.
Pine Meadow Ranch Center for Arts & Agriculture will have a bodacious selection at its plant sale on May 16.
Judy Beth Morris
Friday Night Open Gym This event is staff supervised - Parents may stay and watch, or leave them in the capable hands and supervision of our awesome COGA staff! Those interest can pre-register to save a spot. The $48 per child monthly membership can be used towards unlimited visits to our Friday and Saturday Fridays, 7:30-9pm. Central Oregon Gymnastics Academy, 63060 Layton Ave, Bend. Contact: 541-385-1163. jordan@cogymnastics.com. $22/child or $48 monthly unlimited Fridays and Saturdays.
Hello! Storytime Participants can share stories, enjoy movement and a touch of music with 0-5 year olds, geared toward those younger ages. There will be a heavy emphasis on fun. May 13, 10:30-11am. Roundabout Books, 900 NW Mount Washington Dr., #110, Bend. Contact: 541-306-6564. events@roundaboutbookshop. com. Free.
Homeschool Ninja 6-Week Series
Keep kids developing new skills. They will feel empowered as they improve speed, increase strength, become more coordinated, and enhance athletic abilities. Ages 6-10. Thursdays, 1:45-2:45pm. Through May 14. Free Spirit Yoga + Ninja + Play, 320 SW Powerhouse Drive, Suite 150, Bend. Contact: 541-241-3919. info@ freespiritbend.com. $144.
Jug or Nots Climb Club The Jug-or-nots Climb Club is designed for youth climbers with little or no climbing experience who are looking for an introduction to a fun and educational climbing program. The program relies on specific routesetting for youth climbers, making an introduction to rock climbing engaging, challenging, and exciting! Fridays, 4-5:30pm. Through June 5. Bend Endurance Acaddmy, 222 Southeast Reed Market Road, BEND. Contact: info@bendenduranceacademy.org. $268.
Kid’s Yoga at Namaspa! Kids Yoga Mondays at Namaspa! Our kids classes (open to kids ages 3 and up) run in tandem with adult classes and in a separate and dedicated kid-friendly space, so parents can practice while their kids spend time with other kids and one of our certified kids yoga instructors Mondays, 4-5pm. Namaspa Yoga Studio, 1135 NW Galveston Ave., Bend. Contact: 541-550-8550. soundbathstillness@gmail.com. $10.
Kids Line Dance Lessons Free Kids Line Dance Lessons every Wednesday, 5–6 PM at The Coyote, taught by instructor Alex Reininger. Recommended ages 4–12 yo. Kids stay active while parents enjoy food, drinks or mocktails, pool tables, TVs, and full bar seating. Spacious dance floor and family-friendly fun in downtown Bend. Wednesdays, 5-6pm. The Coyote, 910 NW Harriman St., Bend. Contact: mindfulmotionmentor@gmail.com. Free.
Kids Ninja After-School Camp Wednesdays are packed with climbing, parkour, timed races, and team games on our epic Ninja Warrior course! Ages 6–10. Build strength, speed, and confidence while having a blast and making new ninja friends. Wednesdays, 1:15-3:45pm. Through June 17. Free Spirit Yoga + Ninja + Play, 320 SW Powerhouse Drive, Suite 150, Bend. Contact: 541-241-3919. info@freespiritbend. com. $142.
Kids Open Gym This event is for kids ages 6-12. The gym includes trampolines, foam pits, ninja cage, obstacle course, fort building and more! Those interested can save a spot by pre-registering. Saturdays, 5-7:30pm. Central Oregon Gymnastics Academy, 63060 Layton Ave, Bend. Contact: 541-385-1163. $28/$48 monthly unlimited visits.
Kinder Climb This is designed for youth climbers with little or no climbing experience who are looking for an introduction to a fun and educational climbing program. The program relies on specific route setting for youth climbers, making an introduction to rock climbing engaging, challenging, and exciting! Fridays, 3-4pm. Through June 5. Bend Endurance Acaddmy, 222 Southeast Reed Market Road, BEND. Contact: info@bendenduranceacademy.org. $226.
May Faire Every year, the Waldorf School of Bend welcomes the apex of Spring with a traditional May Faire. This lovely festival usually features beautiful wreaths bedecked with fresh flowers, cheerful music, dancing around a maypole with brightly colored ribbons, and the sharing of food and friendship during a schoolwide community picnic. May 16, 11am-3pm. Waldorf School of Bend, 2150 NE Studio Rd. Suite 2, Bend. Contact: (541) 330–8841. info@ bendwaldorf.com. Free.
Mini Ninja 6-Week Series Children will develop important coordination skills, improve balance, and build confidence as they tackle Ninja Warrior obstacle courses designed around a weekly theme. Age 2 - 3 plus parent/caregiver. Mondays, 10:30-11:15am, Tuesdays, 10-10:45am and Wednesdays, 9:30-10:15am and 4:15-5pm. Through May 13. Free Spirit Yoga + Ninja + Play, 320 SW Powerhouse Drive, Suite 150, Bend. Contact: 541-241-3919. info@freespiritbend. com. $134.
Mom + Baby Yoga 6-Week Series (Winter/Spring Move toning, stretching and strengthening the body while releasing tension. Work to properly strengthen abdominal and back muscles to reduce postpartum back pain, while including movements and songs with babies. Moms and babies age 6 weeks - pre-crawlers. Thursdays, 10:30-11:45am, Thursdays, 10:30-11:45am and Thursdays, 10:30-11:45am. Through May 14. Free Spirit Yoga + Ninja + Play, 320 SW Powerhouse Drive, Suite 150, Bend. Contact: 541-241-3919. info@freespiritbend. com. $144.
Nano Ninja 6-Week Series Children will gain confidence while enhancing balance, increasing strength, improving focus, and enhancing body awareness through Ninja Warrior obstacle-based gymnastics and climbing. Age 4 - 6 Mondays, 4:30-5:20pm, Tuesdays, 3:154:05pm, Wednesdays, 5:15-6:05pm and Thursdays, 3:15-4:05pm. Through May 14. Free Spirit Yoga + Ninja + Play, 320 SW Powerhouse Drive, Suite 150, Bend. Contact: 541-241-3919. info@ freespiritbend.com. $144.
Ninja Elite 6-Week Series Kids will learn new fitness conditioning techniques, parkour moves, and dynamic climbing and gymnastics movements. All levels are welcome. Age 9 - 13 Thursdays, 5:30-6:30pm. Through May 14. Free Spirit Yoga + Ninja + Play, 320 SW Powerhouse Drive, Suite 150, Bend. Contact: 541-241-3919. info@freespiritbend.com. $144.
Ninja Night Fun, team-building games, Ninja Warrior challenges, and thrilling timed races through our amazing obstacle course. This is a great opportunity for Ninjas to work on their balance, and coordination. Age 6-13 Saturdays, 5:30-8:30pm. Through June 20. Free Spirit Yoga + Ninja + Play, 320 SW Powerhouse Drive, Suite 150, Bend. Contact: 541-241-3919. info@ freespiritbend.com. $42.
Page to Screen: Dog Man When a police officer and his faithful police dog get injured in the line of duty, a harebrained but life-saving surgery fuses the two of them together -- and Dog Man is born. As Dog Man learns to embrace his new identity, he must stop feline supervillain Petey the Cat. Prior reservation is encouraged! May 15, 6pm. Tower Theatre, 835 NW Wall St., Bend. Contact: 541-317-0700. info@towertheatre.org. Free.
Prenatal Yoga 6-Week Series Rejuvenate, relax, and recharge as we move, breathe, and build community with other expectant moms! Reduce common pregnancy discomforts and tensions and more. All levels/stages of pregnancy are welcome. Saturdays, 10:30-11:45am. Through May 16. Free Spirit Yoga + Ninja + Play, 320 SW Powerhouse Drive, Suite 150, Bend. Contact: 541-241-3919. info@freespiritbend. com. $144.
Sensory Play This class is all about safe, sensory-rich art play using non-toxic, taste-safe materials, building fine motor skills, supporting sensory processing, encouraging early language, and helping babies feel confident exploring the world around them. Tuesdays, 9:15-10:15am. Through June 9. Two Suns Art Studio + MakerSpace, 70 SW Century Drive, Bend. Contact: (541) 892-6471. Briony@twosunsartstudio.com. $21. Wild Art Wednesdays! Come create with us each Wednesday on early release days from 3-6pm! Each week we explore new themes, art mediums and nature! Sibling discounts available! Wednesdays. Wondery Art + Adventure School, 19570 Amber Meadow Dr Suite 110, Bend. Contact: 4346030301. julie@wonderyschool.com.
FOOD + DRINK
Come to the Rooftop at SCP Redmond Gather under the high desert skies to celebrate the return of rooftop season! The Rooftop features panoramic views and a seasonal menu with locally sourced ingredients that capture the essence of spring. Thursdays-Saturdays, 4-9pm. SCP Redmond Hotel, 521 Southwest 6th Street, Redmond. Prices vary.
R.J.’s Red Bird Pop Up R.J.’s Red Bird Nashville style fried chicken! Second pop-up at Americana’s downtown location. Traditional Nashville style fried chicken and southern sides. Don’t miss this once a month pop-up. May 17, Noon-4pm. Americana - Downtown, 1033 Bond St., Bend. Free.
Redmond Cookbook Club Join local home chefs for a potluck cooked from a different cookbook each month. Meet great people, enjoy delicious wine, and share fabulous food! Choose a recipe at monthly happy hour on the 2nd Tuesdays, then bring a dish to the dinner party every 3rd Tuesday. Bon apetit! Third Tuesday of every month, 6-8pm. Arome, 432 SW 6th St., Redmond. Contact: 503-409-7944. kelsey.seymour@ jillscookbookclub.com. $15.
Spring Chef’s Pairing Experience The Bend Tasting Room & Restaurant holds a springthemed Chef’s Pairings Experience with Winery Ambassador Ashley and Chef Cuin. Enjoy a curated five-wine flight with four chef-created dishes, a $40 bottle credit (with 2+ bottle purchase). Tickets include gratuity. Sundays, 4:30-6pm. Through May 31. Willamette Valley Vineyards, 916 NW Wall St., Bend. Contact: 541-306-6000. bend@wvv.com. $95.
Worthy Farmers Market Farm Fresh Produce – Straight from local growers! One-ofa-kind products. Live music, food, cocktails & beer – Because Sundays should be fun! Set on their dog-friendly patio, it is the perfect way to spend a Sunday. Sundays, 10am-2pm. Through June 14. Worthy Brewing - Main Pub and Brewery, 495 NE Bellevue Dr., Bend. Free.
BEER + DRINK
$10 Rebuy Hold’em Tournament Thursday Night $10 no limit Hold’em poker tournament at Bend Poker Room starting at 6pm. Unlimited rebuys for the first hour and an optional add-on after the first break. Friendly crowd, great vibes and action packed night! Thursdays, 6pm. Bend Poker Room, 917 NE Greenwood Ave, Bend. Contact: bendpokerroom@gmail.com. $10.
The May Faire Spring celebration will happen at the Waldorf School of Bend on May 16.
Waldorf School of Bend
$20 Tuesdays Every Tuesday, all to-go wine bottles are $20 with the purchase of a glass. Enjoy wines you cannot find anywhere else in the world, besides our little cabin. Made exclusively for us from grapes sourced mainly in California and Oregon, many of which are biodynamic, these wines are exceptional. Tuesdays, 3-10pm. Olvi, 1142 NW Galveston Ave., Bend. Contact: 541-241-2443. $20.
Coffee Bar & Brunch Now open for delicious weekend brunch, weekday craft coffee and breakfast everyday! Sunriver Brewing Company’s Eastside Pub is an East Bend meeting spot for friends and family. A place for community gathering, featuring large locally crafted wood tables, open kitchen, kids play area, and relaxed outdoor seating. Saturdays-Sundays. Sunriver Brewing Co. - Eastside Pub, 1500 NE Cushing Dr., Bend. $10-$30.
Commonwealth Pub Happy Hour It’s 5 for 5, with $5 draft beers, $5 house wines, $5 margaritas, $5 crushes and $5 well liquor. Play ping-pong, darts, cornhole, games and enjoy afternoon music on patio and indoors. Ongoing, Noon-6pm. The Commonwealth Pub, 30 SW Century Dr., Bend. Free.
Friday Night $80 Poker Tournament
Bend Poker Room is hosting our most popular no limit hold’em poker tournament starting at 6pm. Register before 6pm for an extra 1/3 starting stack. Late registration runs till 7:10pm. Blind levels are 20 mins and a 10 min break every hour. Optional add-on after the 1st break! Fridays, 6-11:30pm. Bend Poker Room, 917 NE Greenwood Ave, Bend. Contact: 541- 508-9123. bendpokerroom@gmail.com. $80.
Happier Hours + Power Hour $3 draft Coors Light, $5 draft beer and food cart specials that will make your taste buds dance! Mondays-Thursdays, 2-4pm and Mondays-Thursdays, 8-9pm. Midtown Yacht Club, 1661 NE Fourth St., Bend. Contact: 458-256-5454. midtownyachtclub@gmail.com. Free.
Locals’ Day Come on down to Bevel Craft Brewing for $4 beers and cider and $1 off wine all day. There are also food specials from the food carts located out back at The Patio! Tuesdays. Bevel Craft Brewing, 911 SE Armour St., Bend. Contact: holla@bevelbeer.com. Free.
Mezcal Mondays Every Monday get to know one new mezcal in cocktail form, and as a neat pour, at a discounted price. Plus all of our signature mezcal drinks are just $11 all night. Mondays, 4-11pm. The Flamingo Room, 70 SW Century Dr., Bend. Contact: 541-323-0472.
Monday WINE Down @ Portello Lounge Survived Monday? Reward yourself! All wines by the glass are $9 all night at Portello Lounge EVERY Monday. Bold reds, crisp whites, bubbles, dessert pours - no commitment required, try them all! Mondays, 4-9pm. Portello Lounge, 2754 NW Crossing Dr., Bend. Contact: contact@portellobend.com.
Shades of Pinot Noir Educational Flight Experience This is an evening exploring Pinot Noir’s versatility with a guided five-wine flight including sparkling, rosé, white, red, and port-style expression. Tickets include the tasting, a light snack plate, and a $20 credit when you purchase two or more bottles. May 14, 5:30-7pm. Willamette Valley Vineyards, 916 NW Wall St., Bend. Contact: 541-306-6000. bend@ wvv.com. $30.
Spanish Wine Tasting Seminar One of Spain’s most celebrated winemakers, Raul Perez is renowned for his minimal-intervention philosophy, crafting wines of remarkable purity and energy. Our friend Sarah Shannon will guide participants through a lineup of 5 benchmark wines. Reservations required. May 14, 5:30-7pm. Journey through Spain with Bodegas Carlos San Pedro Perez, a historic wine estate whose winemaking in the Laguardia region of Rioja goes back more than 500 years. It’s going to be an educational and delicious event! May 14, 5:30-7pm. Viaggio Wine Merchant, 210 SW Century Dr., Bend. Contact: 541-299-5060. info@viaggiowine.com. $35 ($25 Wine Club).
HEALTH + WELLNESS
“The Booze Reset.” A Zero for Life™ Workshop Spring is the perfect time to reset your body and reclaim your power. The Booze Reset is a Zero for Life™ Workshop where participants will walk away with a 30-day plan, a guided meditation, and EFT tapping tools to bust through cravings for good. May 14, 6-7:30pm. The Haven CoWorking, 1001 Southwest Disk Drive, Bend. Contact: 541-241-8678. support@ cricketfixes.com. $15-$35.
Bachata Dance Classes - Beginner
Level This class is perfect for anyone wanting to learn the basics of bachata. Their experienced instructors will guide dancers through the steps and movements in a fun and welcoming environment. Tuesdays, 7-8:30pm. Through May 26. Foundation Health & Fitness, 1105 SE Centennial St., Bend. Contact: 541-325-6676. latindancebend@gmail.com. $15.
Bachata Dance Classes - Intermediate Level Whether participants are looking to improve dance skills or just want to have fun, this class is perfect for all intermediate dancers. Our experienced instructors will guide dancers through the steps and techniques to take their Bachata to the next level. Tuesdays, 8:459:45pm. Through May 26. Foundation Health & Fitness, 1105 SE Centennial St., Bend. Contact: 541-325-6676. latindancebend@gmail.com. $15.
Belly Dance Classes, all levels welcome Expand your movement language by learning a variety of Belly Dance styles + build strength, grace, confidence, & community. Classes include a great workout, yoga, professional technique, functional fitness approach for alignment, longevity, & safety in movement and body. Performance opportunities for those who desire Mondays, 5-6:15pm. Private Studio, ., Bend. Contact: https://www.templetribalfusion. com/contact/. $20.
Birder Shares Visions of Oregon Desert Wildlife Long-time Oregon birder and writer Alan Contreras will present a unique treasury of poems, stories and images related to birds, wildlife and the human experience--inspired by what is found in Eastern Oregon. Birders’ Night programs are free and open to the public. May 14, 6-7:30pm. Eastside Worthy Brewing, Eastside Worthy Brewing (Hop Mahal Room), 495 NE Bellevue Drive, Bend. Contact: 417-234-5899. laura@medavera.com. Free.
Care Empowerment 6-Session Series No one should navigate dementia care alone. The ABC Dementia Care Empowerment Series is a compassionate, six-session online program offering dementia caregiver education, connection, and support. Hosted by Sagebrush Speech Therapy and facilitated by ABC Dementia Care. Mondays, 4-5:30pm, Mondays, 4-5:30pm and Mondays, 4-5:30pm. Through June 8. Sagebrush Speech Therapy, 604 NW Harriman St., Bend. Contact: 541-728-3635. patty@abcdementia. com. $195.
EcoNidra: Where Yoga Nidra Meets Nature Connection EcoNidra is a restorative, meditation-like rest practice that guides one back into connection with oneself and with the earth. It is a blend of yoga nidra and forest bathing that helps people sleep better and restore profound peace. Mon, April 13, 6:30-7:30pm, Mon, May 18, 6:30-7:30pm and Mon, June 8, 6:30-7:30pm. Hanai, 62430 Eagle Rd, Bend. Contact: indy@rootedpresence.com. $22.
Energetic Readings/Intuitive Readings
Energetic readings reveal the energies that boost, block, or impact. Tuning into the energy system, the group explores where people feel stuck, limited, or unsettled, and how to shift to feel more joyful and empowered. Tuesdays, 10am-7pm and Thursdays, 7-9pm. Blue Lotus Energetics, 145 NE Revere Ave, Studio C, Bend. Contact: 541-241-2207. hello@bluelotusenergetics.com. $125.
Experience Divine Healing! The Divine Healers are a wonderfully talented community of healers doing Angelic channeling, Reiki, Quantum Healing, Angel Card & Tarot readings, Mediumship, and Healing Touch every 3rd Saturday 2 - 4 PM at Unity Spiritual Community. Third Saturday of every month, 2-4pm. Through Dec. 31. Unity Spiritual Community of Central Oregon, 63645 Scenic Drive, Bend. Contact: Info@DivineHealers.org. Donation-based. Fitness Boot Camp for Every Body This event is intended for participant 14 and older. This is an energizing session focused on building lifelong health and wellness! The group starts with a 10-minute fitness overview exploring why regular movement is key to longevity, vitality and well-being. May 16, 10-11am. Gym X, 2185 NE 2nd St Suites A & B, Bend, OR 97701, Bend. Contact: 541-312-1065. jennym@deschuteslibrary.org. Free.
NAMI Family Support Group: Bend
NAMI Family Support Group is for family members, caregivers, and loved ones of individuals living with mental illness. Family members can talk frankly about their challenges and help one another through their learned wisdom. Second and Fourth Wednesday of every month, 5:306:30pm. Embark Coworking Community, 2843 NW Lolo Drive, Bend. Contact: 541-316-0167. info@namicentraloregon.org. Free.
NAMI Mental Health Peer Support Group: La Pine NAMI’s Peer Connection Support Group is a free, peer-led support group for adults living with mental health challenges. You will gain insight from hearing the challenges and successes of others, and the groups are led by NAMI-trained facilitators who’ve been there. 1st & 3rd Tuesdays of each month. First and Third Tuesday of every month, 3pm. La Pine Senior Activity Center, 16450 Victory Way, La Pine. Contact: 541-316-0167. programs@namicentraloregon.org. Free.
Pain Free Posture - Celebrating More than 50 Years of The Vance Stance Tired of being in pain? Get to the root of why you are tight & suffering. Learn to stand in gravity, not behind it. Offering a series of 5 1.5 hour sessions in my private studio for $175. You pick the date and time. Wednesdays, 12-1:30pm. EastSide Home Studio, 21173, Bend. Contact: 541-3309070. vancebonner@juno.com. $175 for 5 class series.
Pause & Reset A slow, warm, fully sensory evening of yin yoga and sound healing, designed for anyone who’s been moving too fast for too long. Long, supported holds that open the body gently, layered with live sound healing. May 16, 7-8pm. CONTINUUM, A School of Shadow Yoga Bend Oregon. Contact: 719-244-5342. heysonjahey@gmail.com. $20.
Prineville In-Person Group NAMI Connection Peer Support Group is a free, peer-led support group for any adult who has experienced symptoms of a mental health condition. You will gain insight from hearing the challenges and successes of others, and the groups are led by trained leaders who’ve been there. First and Third Wednesday of every month, 3pm. Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, 695 N.W. Third St., Prineville. Contact: organize@namicentraloregon.org. Free.
Redmond NAMI Family Support Group
This is a peer-led group program for family members, caregivers, and loved ones of individuals living with mental illness. In these groups, family members can talk frankly about their challenges and help one another through their learned wisdom. Third and First Tuesday of every month, 6-7pm. Redmond Seventh Day Adventist Church, 945 SW Glacier Rd, Redmond. Contact: 541-3160888. organize@namicentraloregon.org. Free.
Somatic Channeling Circle: FREE
Somatic channeling group for those already practicing embodied energy work. Gather in a small, supportive circle to deepen connection through shared experience. Reach out via email thdubose@gmail.com or phone for the location. Every other Sunday, 4-6pm. Harriman Healing Arts, 1010 NW Harriman St, Bend. Contact: 541797-3638. thdubose@gmail.com. Free.
The Peace Field A two-month community gathering for nervous system care, stillness, and human connection. Through guided meditation, Kundalini Yoga, and facilitated conversation, participants tend their state of being. Wednesdays, 6:30-7:45pm, Mondays, 7-8:15am and Every other Sunday, 8-9:30am. Through May 31. Aowyn Jones Healing, 354 NE Greenwood Ave, Bend. $108-$150.
Wednesday Night Astrology Talk People root themselves in ancient teachings of both philosophy and astronomy to link to the astrology of modern times. Learn about the divine cosmic tapestry of time. Wednesdays, 4:30-6:30pm. Unity Spiritual Community of Central Oregon, 63645 Scenic Dr,, Bend. Contact: 657-349-9750. esoteric.butcher@gmail.com. $5-$20 Donation. Weekly Online Breathwork Weekly online breathwork hosted from Bend, Oregon and open worldwide. Release stress, reset the nervous system, and reconnect to calm through guided Conscious Connected Breathing. Trauma-aware and choice-based. Wednesdays, 6:30pm. Through Dec. 30. Contact: confluencebreathbody@gmail.com. $22.
Women’s Self Defense Women’s Monday self defense class is an Intermediate level Krav Maga class designed to create a supportive space for women to learn and practice self defense skills. Mondays, 5:30-7pm. Through April 19. Cascadia Krav Maga, 2525 NE Twin Knolls Dr Suite #9, bend. Contact: 541-223-9953. tim@ cascadiakravmaga.com. First class free.
Alan Contreras, longtime birder and writer, presents his work at eastside Worthy Brewing on May 14.
Michael Jerrard
By Eli Zatz
CHOW C LITTLE BITES A Redmond Chinese Classic
Yi’s Wok is a low-key comfort
By Jared Rasic
When thinking about Chinese food in Central Oregon, too few names come to mind. The region’s culinary landscape is often defined by its omnipresent craft beer culture and farm-to-table Pacific Northwest fare, but tucked into the streets of Redmond and Bend is an underrated Chinese food scene, bridging the gap between classic American comfort and regional Chinese depth.
While Bend offers “elevated” spots like Chi Chinese & Sushi Bar and classic, comforting Americanized Chinese locations like Chan’s, Double Happiness and China Doll, Redmond is carving out its own reputation for mouth-watering Chinese food as well. From mainstays like Chan’s of Redmond, Cindy’s Chinese Garden and Yi’s Wok to newer additions like Aiwa Asian American Cuisine, Redmond is leaning into becoming a destination location for Chinese food.
Yi’s Wok has been in Redmond for nearly a decade, but since coming under new ownership in September 2023, the glowing word-of-mouth has been near-constant, with the online community raving about its food, swift service and throwback vibes. Every time a member of the Bend or Redmond Foodies groups posted about them, I found myself suffering from a serious case of Food FOMO.
This is how I found myself in Redmond, walking into Yi’s Wok about 90 seconds after they opened. While Yi’s has been around too long to be called a “hidden gem,” I wondered if the quality had shifted since the ownership change. Regardless, I found the 2026 version of Yi’s Wok to be some of the freshest and tastiest Chinese food I’ve had this side of San Francisco. By using 100% cholesterol-free vegetable oil and strictly avoiding MSG, Yi’s clearly prioritizes ingredient quality.
One of the specials, a Philly Cheesesteak Egg Roll, was as interesting as it sounds. The savory, cheesy beef combined with the fried shell created a fusion I didn’t know I needed. It was so addictive that I nearly ordered more to go.
The interior is casual and unpretentious, foregoing ornate decor for a simple, cozy, old-school atmosphere that keeps the focus on the kitchen. With country music playing on the speakers instead of traditional Chinese instrumentals, Yi’s Wok feels as much a part of Redmond as it does an Asian culinary experience.
The food represents the “West Coast” or Americanized style of Chinese cooking. While traditional Chinese methods rely on steaming, braising, stewing, boiling, etc. the American-style—and the West Coast scene in general—emphasizes the deep fryer and high-heat wok, stir-frying to achieve a specific texture and speed of plating. You find “Western” vegetables like broccoli, carrots and onions as staples here, whereas traditional recipes might favor bok choy, gai lan, lotus root or bamboo shoots. Additionally, West Coast menus feature boneless meat fillets, while traditional cuisine frequently serves meat on the bone to preserve flavor and texture.
The Hot & Sour Soup features a thick, peppery broth packed with bamboo, tofu, mushrooms and all the normal goodies you find in a typical Hot & Sour, but the difference at Yi’s is the freshness; it doesn’t feel poured from a vat and reheated; instead, it tastes intentional — a far cry from the viscous gruel served at lesser establishments.
One of the specials, a Philly Cheesesteak Egg Roll, was as interesting as it sounds. The savory, cheesy beef
Panaderia y Pasteleria El Moy Goes Home
A Bend Pas expands into Redmond
Bcombined with the fried shell created a fusion I didn’t know I needed. It was so addictive that I nearly ordered more to go.
Choosing from the massive, multipage menu (including dozens of lunch specials ranging from $12 to $15.95) was difficult, but I went with the Mongolian Chicken. It was tender with a perfect crisp, leaning into a soy-garlic base rather than overt spice. The onions were crunchy and the light brown sugar notes provided a lovely sweet-andsavory balance.
My dining companion’s Chicken Curry was a show-stopper: large, tender pieces of chicken in a smooth, mild yellow curry that avoided an over-reliance on star anise or five-spice, allowing the mild Cantonese flavors to shine. It’s genuinely a flawless chicken curry and one I can’t wait to head to Redmond to try again.
Yi’s Wok has been busier than ever since blowing up on socials, but it still has a small staff and kitchen. So, for anyone who reads this and decides to head down for some delicious homemade food, please be patient and kind to the team. Trust me, the food is worth it.
Yi’s Wok
Tue-Sat 11am-8:30pm, Sun 11am-8pm 615 NW 6th St. Redmond Lunch specials: 11am-3pm yiswokredmond.com/ 541-316-1298
ehind a small green door in Bend’s industrial district sits a warehouse bursting with rows of colorful cakes and puff pastries. In the two years since Panaderia y Pasteleria El Moy opened its Second Street location, the bakery has grown quickly. On any given weekend a stream of regulars will flow in and out of the shop, retrieving their custom cakes, danishes, and donuts.
“Business is good,” says Moisés Maldonado, co-owner and operator of El Moy. In fact, business is so good that a second location is expected to open in mid-June in Redmond.
The opening of a Redmond location is a bit of a homecoming for Maldonado and co-owner Alejandra Reyes. El Moy’s headquarters were once in Maldonado’s Redmond home with his small kitchen as the production center. With no storefront, Reyes and Maldonado went door to door. Now, the couple says that they’re elated to bring their cakes and pastries to a larger audience by opening a Redmond location.
“We work hard and our team works hard to get our goods out as fast as possible,” says Maldonado.
“We want to say thank you to our clients and the community for coming in day after day and supporting our business.”
Panaderia y Pasteleria El Moy Opening mid-June NW Greenwood Ave, Redmond elmoybend.com/
Bend location: Daily 7am-8pm 1375 NE 2nd Ste A, Bend
Co-Owner Moisés Maldonado layers frosting on a custom cake.
Eli Zatz
CHICKEN CURRY
CASHEW CHICKEN
MONGOLIAN CHICKEN
Photo by Jared Rasic
CCULTURE
It started with making mud potions in the forests of Northern Idaho, and now Josie Stanfield, activist, community leader and self-proclaimed witch, shared her story inside her Redmond store — WitchCrafting with Josie — just weeks from opening. Growing up in a predominately white family — and state — as a Black woman, Stanfield often wandered the outdoors alone, feeling a deep spiritual connection to nature. And that extended to witchcraft, too.
She said contrary to popular belief, witchcraft isn’t necessarily anti-religion. Instead, it means subscribing to what makes her, or any fellow witch, feel empowered. She pointed out its intrinsic ties to women’s rights and autonomy, citing the Salem Witch Trials as an example; property disputes were one of the leading reasons for the accusations.
But more than that, Stanfield said witchcraft enables her to connect with both her ancestors after colonization ripped them from their homeland.
“They weren’t allowed to use any of the herbs that they had back home or any of the remedies… so just being able to do that again and in the open and in spite, it feels a little bit good, I can’t lie,” she said.
She said she wants the store to be used as a communal safe space for learning and exploring witchcraft, gesturing to the small selection of resident books, and that the table in the center of the room is intended to function as part of a classroom. Stanfield said this progress also feels a part of her own personal journey, stepping away as a leader on the forefront of local activism and instead making space for the next generation of leaders.
Community Leader Set to Open Brick-and-Mortar Witchcraft Store
Josie Stanfield ports a connection to nature into a store in downtown Redmond
By Ray Randall
Though her store’s stock consists primarily of her hand-poured candles, Stanfield said it’s more than a candle shop. What’s more, “You are the magic … this candle doesn’t work without you. The gemstones don’t work without you. The herbs don’t brew themselves,” she added.
Furnishing her brickand-mortar store from the ground up, Stanfield said, made her feel like Tiana Rogers from “Princess and the Frog,” who had to build her dream restaurant from scratch. Similarly, Stanfield faced several rejections when applying for a storefront in Bend, and though it was never stated, she was sure it was related to her store’s content, if not also her race.
Since acquiring the space she went to extensive lengths to renovate it by painting the interior, scrubbing away grime and building furniture. It’s been a collaborating experience involving community members with hands-on work and networking with community artists to help them gain exposure; most notably Allie Blanchard — known for her large murals found throughout Bend.
WitchCrafting with Josie began in her home in 2019, selling mostly to friends. By the end of 2020 she was a single mother supporting two kids; it was here she went full steam on her business. “There was no way that I was letting them down,” she asserted.
It was that same year she started an online storefront. She came into her current storefront on NW Greenwood Avenue and Fifth Street, in the spring of 2026, with the aid of fellow community activist, Katherina Barguil, and Marcos Rodriguez, who owns the building housing the Hola! restaurant, Stanfield’s store and a soon-to-be-open Mexican bakery.
“I don’t want to say it feels unreal, ‘cause I know that it’s real. I made this happen. I’ve worked my ass off. But it does … because you don’t see witches being able to be out in the open like this, making businesses
with witchcraft on the sign …. I feel like my life has kind of had this weird, common theme since I was a child, that if there’s a glass ceiling to break, I’m going to break that motherf-,” Stanfield said. She anticipates the store’s grand opening by mid-May.
A sample of the many intention candles WitchCrafting with Josie has on display.
Ray Randall
The wares Josie Stanfield carries have been sold across multiple stores such as Moonchild Artistry, Veil and Vixen, Nature’s Bling, Cosmic Depot and Livingscapes PDX.
Ray Randall
Josie Stanfield in the midst of remodeling.
Duran Fraser
SC SCREEN A Good Yarn
"The Sheep Detectives" is a shear delight
By Jared Rasic
Every once in a while, a movie comes along with a premise so fundamentally weird that you can almost hear the studio executives break into a flop sweat, wondering how many Happy Meals and cross-promotional merch to make the juice worth the squeeze.
“The Sheep Detectives” is exactly the kind of movie that, when you hear the premise, makes you wonder if some brilliant Hollywood writer asked their fever-dreaming 4-year-old what kind of movie they wanted to see after mainlining “Babe” and “Knives Out” backto-back. Somehow, miraculously, it works.
Adapted by “The Last of Us” show runner, Craig Mazin, from Leonie Swann’s 2005 German-language novel, “Three Bags Full,” and directed by “The Minions” alum Kyle Balda, the film centers on an unforgettable flock of sheep in the village of Denbrook tasking themselves with solving the murder of their shepherd, George (played with effortless warmth by Hugh Jackman). George has spent years reading Agatha Christie novels to the flock before bed and sheep like Julia Louis-Dreyfus as the neurotic but brilliant Shetland, Lily; Chris O’Dowd as the soulful, haunted Mopple; and Bryan Cranston’s wounded and angry Sebastian, must use their newly developed deduction skills to find his killer.
glow rarely seen in modern family films. They both understand that for a story like this to land, the sheep can’t just be humans in wool suits; they have to be sheep—governed by flock mentality, obsessed with grass, and deeply suspi-
does a kids’ movie about talking sheep. What caught me off guard, though, was the film’s emotional core. “The Sheep Detectives” is primarily about grief, belonging, and the way we choose to remember those we’ve lost. In this
cious of anything that isn’t a hill.
What could have easily been a disposable “talking animal” comedy for the kiddos, similar to the embarrassingly facile new adaptation of “Animal Farm,” is instead a sophisticated and gorgeous experience for all ages. Mazin brings a surprising amount of existential weight to the pasture, while Balda’s direction provides a bright, uncynical
The interplay between the digitized sheep and the live-action human suspects—including the luminous Molly Gordon as George’s long-lost daughter, Emma Thompson as a sharp-tongued attorney, and Nicholas Braun as a bumbling local cop—is handled with a seamlessness that makes you forget you’re watching special effects. Even the murder mystery itself is well-developed and mildly robust, giving the film a vibe closer to a “Knives Out” spin-off (“Knives Out: A Flocked Door Mystery!”) than it
remembering that memory is a gift— and that remembering the lost is how we keep them alive—gives the film a moving and unforgettable resonance. Is it perfect? No, but awfully close. Some of the human subplots feel like they’re stalling for time and a couple of characters feel like they only exist to be red herrings, but my issues are minor and easily forgivable.
“The Sheep Detectives” has a sincerity that is increasingly rare in modern family cinema and avoids so many of the pitfalls inherent to this genre like garishly synergistic original songs and needle-drops, cynical jokes for the parents and embarrassed meta-textual writing that shows how much the screenwriters would rather be working on anything else but, gasp, a family movie.
world, the sheep can forget anything if they focus hard enough, so they believe death is only something from the stories George reads them at night and that their fallen friends simply become clouds. Only Mopple is cursed with the inability to forget, so he alone carries the collective grief of his flock, quietly sighing as Lily decides the death of George is too sad to hold onto. They loved their shepherd and he loved them, so why should they hold onto their pain when letting it go is so easy?
The flock’s journey toward
“The Sheep Detectives” doesn’t condescend to its audience and it isn’t afraid to let its humor be as weird as its premise. It’s a film that exists in a state of perpetual, wideeyed wonder at the beauty of life and connection. It wasn’t the first time I found myself openly weeping in a kids’ movie and I’m sure it won’t be the last, but this was definitely the only time I wasn’t embarrassed about it. Can we have 10 more of these movies, please? Like Mopple, I won’t let anyone forget how special this miraculous little movie truly is.
“The Sheep Detectives” Dir. Kyle Balda Grade ANow playing at Regal Old Mill, Sisters Movie House, Redmond Cinema, Madras Cinema 5
You got knocked the f*** out…by the adorable “Sheep Detectives.”
OUTSIDE
New Trails Delight at Cascade View and Cline Buttes
Just a short drive from Bend, 11 miles of new trails are worth the gas
By Peter Madsen
Redmond mountain bikers now have even fewer reasons to drive to the Deschutes National Forest to stage trail rides. The riding opportunities west of town on Bureau of Land Management land is now more streamlined and connected — by the tune of 11.5 additional miles.
In March, the Source reported that the Central Oregon Trail Alliance finished tamping down almost a dozen trails that belong to the Cascade View and Cline Buttes trail system. There, sections owned by the Bureau of Land Management are sandwiched between private and Department of State acreag es — and a BLM-managed bald eagle nest, to boot. With the trail revamp, COTA and Oregon Equestrian Trails, both nonprofits charged with trail maintenance for mountain bikers, hikers and horse riders, respec tively, hope to shore up that discord.
“We’re looking at trail connectivity,” says Alex Brieger, COTA’s trails program director. “And then making sure that in perpetuity on the BLM-specific land, that we will always have access to get people to where they want to go” without entering neighboring private properties.
A recent example of inter-recreator collaboration is found at Maston Trail Complex, where COTA and OET partnered in recent years to establish and maintain dedicated horse trails separate, yet often in tandem with, those for mountain biking and hiking.
Brieger is pleased with COTA Redmond chapter’s volunteer trail building, mostly by hand. BLM approved the building of these trails after conducting an environmental assessment in 2012, Brieger said, yet the lapsed time period required the agency to make a National Environmental Policy Act adequacy decision. Thereafter, COTA was granted the green light.
The Cascade View system offers more blue-level riding — think rocky, technical sections without too much steep stuff. Several grants helped COTA hire some seasonal trail builders. Terra Velo and Paul Thomas Berg, for example, helped machine-build Crossfire, a climbing trail.
The intention there, Brieger explained, is to steer folks away from what’s known as the FAA road, which is gravel and almost entirely on property owned by the Thornburgh Resort.
COTA subsequently completed Whiptail, Hummingbird, Rattler and Bull Snake, which cover about 6 miles.
“The goal is to build a trail that allows people to climb to the top with a really good grade that would make it more comfortable to ride,” Brieger said. “It’s not a very narrow single track, so if you wander a little bit, you’re not going to drop your front wheel off the trail. It’s definitely steep up there.”
A new trail called Bull Snake connects Cascade View to Cline Buttes by tying into Cover Charge. New trails at Cline Buttes, which count 6 miles, include Chainbreak, Positive Vibrations, Return Policy, DH3 re-route, Legal Eagle — the new trail to afford those federally-protected raptors some privacy — and Hummingbird.
climbing trail, but it connects the Eagle Crest community to the top of the Butte, tying into Crossfire at the top,” Brieger said.
Some folks do better with directions by reading them on a map. COTA offers trail write-ups on its website, along with maps courtesy of Bend Trails. Yet now that beloved Bend Trails, a nonprofit online hub of trail intel, will go off-line June 1, Trailforks will be the other online option for rider-generated trail intel.
On a recent riding — err, newsgathering trip — at Cascade View trailhead, this reporter was reminded of the High Desert’s wind-swept serenity. Parking in a nearly empty lot, I only noticed two other vehicles.
I was happy to explore the Cascade View trails. For its cross-country-style riding opportunities — Cascade View spoke to me; I’d also brought my gravel bike, which is a good litmus test of rideabili ty of cross-country trails.
Near a pit toilet, new signage, installed by COTA, helped me gather my surroundings. Yes to bikes; no to horses and e-bikes. (Unlike the Deschutes National Forest Service, e-bikes are not allowed on BLM land. Yet the Redmond Radlands, which is managed by Redmond Area Park and Recreation District, is a go-to for class-1 e-bike afficionados.)
Back at Cascade View, I eased my way onto Bluebelly Stem rolling down a slight hill and settling into the trail — an enjoyable mix of hard-packed yet sometimes soupy sand. Punctuated with sharp lava rock, the trail requires nimble handling. Throughout the ride, a cool breeze rustled juniper boughs while lizards scuttled from shady place to shady place, making zigzags on the trail. Vantage points along the taller sections rewarded pit stops with blue-bird views of the Cascade Range. A long, bushy cloud clung to Three Finger Jack like a shawl. Down trail, several gates required
dismounts and careful re-attachments of the various dead bolt and chain locking systems. In less than two hours I’d linked up Bluebelly Stem, Whiptail, portions of the Bluebelly Loop, Rattler and Hummingbird.
Riding the Cline Buttes and Cascade View trail system is a popular destination for winter riding, when the Deschutes National Forest’s lower trails may be too muddy to ride. Yet despite the moon dust in sections, these trails offer a spring setting that feels downright tranquil compared to the high rider volume that packs through Phil’s lower trails. On a Sunday afternoon, respite from the crowds was a welcome change of pace.
Epic scenery of the Cascade Range rewards nimble handling on the trails at the aptly named Cascade View trail network west of Redmond.
Big Sky Country ain’t just in Montana. The Cascade View trail system west of Redmond offers remarkable vistas.
Central Oregon Trail Alliance, the nonprofit trail-building outfit, added clear signage to 11 miles of new trail at the Cline Buttes and Cascade View trail systems west of Redmond.
Photos by Peter Madsen
Downtown Bend’s Fr Celebration Of
Culture
OUTSIDE
Spring Birding Takes Flight in Redmond
Spring migrations and the city wastewater project transform Central Oregon into one of the region’s liveliest birdwatching stages
for local birders
By Wally Hofmann
Spring has arrived in Central Oregon and with it comes one of the region’s most vibrant natural spectacles: bird migration. From waterfowl and shorebirds to raptors and songbirds, the Redmond area becomes a seasonal haven for both birds and birders. May and June, in particular, offer near-constant activity as species move along the Pacific Flyway.
The East Cascades Bird Alliance, a local, all-volunteer organization, helps residents and visitors make the most of the season with guided outings, educational programs and community events. The group welcomes everyone — from beginners to lifelong wildlife enthusiasts.
Although ECBA President Wendy Andrick considers herself a relatively new birder, her love of nature runs deep. Originally from the Appalachians of Pennsylvania, she later lived in Montana before settling in Oregon, where she joined the ECBA board. “It’s been a real blessing and opportunity,” she said.
Many of the organization’s longtime leaders — Chuck Gates, Judy Meredith and David Vick — have helped guide ECBA for nearly two decades. “It’s been all about fun,” Andrick said, noting that the organization operates entirely with volunteers and no paid staff.
A desire to deepen his knowledge of local birds led retired science teacher Gates to become an avid birder and bird photographer. Gates, who grew up in Culver, earned a bachelor’s degree in biology education from Southern Oregon University and taught for 25 years at Crook County High School in Prineville before returning to Culver to teach science for five years. During that time, students and community members frequently asked him about the birds they were seeing around Central Oregon.
What began as a personal pursuit soon grew into a valuable resource for the community. “I can’t stand not knowing — it pushes me to find the answers, so I set out to learn as much as I could about birds,” Gates said. “And that quest continues to this day.”
Gates now uses his bird photographs in presentations, educational displays, brochures, websites and books, helping others better understand and appreciate the region’s rich birdlife.
Redmond Expands Habitat with Wastewater Wetlands
Birders will soon have another prime viewing destination. The City of Redmond has committed more than $80 million to a natural wastewater treatment system that will include wetlands designed to support wildlife.
“These ponds will be instrumental for birders and migratory birds,” Andrick said. The project uses native vegetation and natural processes to help treat wastewater before it returns to the environment. The habitat is expected to be accessible to the public and is scheduled for completion in fall 2027.
Top Birding Spots Around Redmond
The Redmond area already offers a variety of outstanding birding locations:
• Cline Falls State Park — A productive riparian corridor for waterfowl and migratory species.
• Borden Beck Wildlife Preserve — Riparian habitat where visitors often see yellow warblers, doves, and red-winged blackbirds.
• Dry Canyon — Fantastic trail system that runs north-south through the heart of Redmond.
• Smith Rock State Park — Home to nesting bald eagles, peregrine falcons, swifts, and cliff-dwelling birds.
A Premier Birding Region
Central Oregon hosts more than 360 bird species across diverse habitats. Common sightings include:
• Raptors: osprey, bald eagle, golden eagle, prairie falcon, and northern harrier
• Songbirds: mountain bluebird, warbler, western tanager, chickadees, and juncos
• Waterbirds: sandhill cranes, pelicans, swans, avocets, and numerous duck species
• High Desert Species: sage thrasher and brewer’s sparrow
Weekly Walks and Community Events
ECBA offers year-round activities, including weekly guided bird walks held on Wednesdays at various locations. Trips are led by experienced volunteers and are open to birders of all skill levels. The group also partners with local wildlife organizations for outreach events such as Earth Day programs and the City Nature Challenge.
Upcoming Birding Activities
• Birding by Ear — Tuesdays through early June from 8—9:30 a.m., Sawyer Park in Bend
• Crooked River Wetlands Bird Walk — First and third Saturdays through September, Prineville
• Summer Lake Shorebird Survey — May 30—31, Summer Lake Wildlife Area
• Dean Hale Woodpecker Weekend — June 5—7, featuring author and photographer Paul Bannick With migration in full swing and a new habitat on the horizon, Spring may be the best time of year to explore Redmond’s skies, wetlands and canyon walls. Whether you’re carrying binoculars for the first time or adding to a life list, Central Oregon offers a frontrow seat to one of nature’s most dynamic seasons.
MEMBERSHIP
The East Cascades Bird Alliance has about 350 members and offers newsletters, birding blogs, educational resources, and a code of birding ethics, with affordable membership options: East Cascade Bird Alliance ECBirds.org ecba@ecbirds.org 541-241-2190
Seniors 65+/students: $15
Individuals: $25/Families: $35
Contributing (includes family members): $50
Sustaining (includes family members): $100
Lifetime: $400
MOUNTAIN CHICKADEE
YELLOW WARBLER
OSPREY
BALD EAGLE
Chuck Gates Chuck Gates
Chuck Gates
Wendy Andrick
Redmond Has a Thriving Art Community
A downtown gallery is expanding classrooms
By Nic Moye
The Dry Canyon Community Art Center is flourishing six months after opening on SW Sixth Street in downtown Red mond. The gallery has hosted three exhibitions showcasing local artists. The featured art display changes monthly and items sold in the gift gallery rotate on a regular basis. Art educators teach classes in rooms at the back of the gallery in a variety of mediums including watercolor, glass, ceramics and jewelry making. This summer, Dry Canyon Arts Association is launching a new Veterans Art program that will offer art classes with scholarships to local veterans.
will be a wide-ranging and celebratory exhibit with many eclectic interpretations of the theme, Marketing Director Jan Tracy wrote in a news release.
The art center is also expanding. It’ll soon take possession of 1,500 square feet of space in the back of the building that’s currently being used as office space for a nonprofit. The area will be renovated to create more classroom and workshop space. The Association also plans to hire an executive director to oversee the art center and ensure it’ll be sustainable over time.
The gallery is open to the public Tuesdays through Saturdays.
In June, the Dry Canyon Arts Association will begin a two-month celebration of Independence Day with a show entitled “America the Beautiful.” Members created art that expresses what that topic means to them. It
Dry Canyon Community Art Ctr. Tue-Sat 11am-6pm 415 SW 6th St, Redmond drycanyonarts.org
Brightside Animal Center Open Sundays in June
New
dog-adventure days coming
By Jesse Coronado
Redmond’s Brightside Animal Center will be open to the public on Sundays starting June 7. The goal is to increase adoptions and reunite lost pets in a more timely manner.
“We want to limit the amount of time that ani mals have to spend in shelters. We want to make sure they either get back home quicker, or they get into their new homes as quickly as possible,” BAC Executive Director Kristen Davidson told the Source.
BAC will host a kickoff event on June 7 at the shelter to ring in the new hours. Community members can mingle and meet adoptable furry friends while perusing vendors with pet-friendly items.
In the coming months, the public will be able to participate in an adventure day. BAC staff will match
responsible community members with a furry friend who can then go toether hiking, walking or on car rides. The program is likely to begin with a softlaunch, only available on weekdays at certain hours of the day.
“I think they would be excited to know that we love them so much that we want to be able to help them find that forever home and be able to make sure that they get home in a timely manner and don’t have to be scared and spend unnecessary time in the shelter,” Loftis says when asked how she thinks the animals will react.
Brightside Kickoff Event Sun, June 7 10am-5:30pm 1355 NE Hemlock Ave, Redmond brightsideanimals.org
BrightsideAnimalCenter
UNDERSTANDING INTIMACY
A COLUMN THAT FOSTERS DEEPER LOVE BETWEEN COUPLES
By Dr. Jane Guyn
Feeling Comfortable After a Gap in Dating
I’m a regular reader and really appreciate your advice. I’ve noticed that many people who write in are married or in long-term relationships struggling to communicate about intimacy — and your guidance on talking openly and compassionately really resonates with me. But my situation is a little different.
I’m a 42-year-old woman who married and divorced before I was 25. We had one son, who’s now grown and out on his own. For most of the years I was raising him, I kept to myself and didn’t date much — whether that was circumstance or something else, I’m honestly not sure. But right now, I feel ready to open myself up to the possibility of romantic love again.
The problem is, whenever I start to put myself out there — on the apps, on Meetup — I get really nervous. And it’s not about meeting people or making conversation. I actually do that easily, and I have a full, active life. My anxiety is specifically about sex. So my question is: why do I struggle to feel confident in bed?
—Lacking Confidence in Bend
Thank you so much for sharing your story — you might be surprised how many people would recognize themselves in it.
There are a couple of things I think are worth unpacking here.
A lot of people who come to me with this concern have absorbed ideas about sex from movies and TV — mainstream or otherwise — and have quietly decided there’s a specific way to act that makes someone seem “sexy” or that will “drive men wild.” It feels like there must be a formula.
There isn’t. What actually works in the bedroom is the same thing that works everywhere else in your life: being playful, warm, a little flirty, affectionate, and genuinely present. Those qualities, brought into an intimate setting, are sexual confidence. It really comes down to being yourself — openly, easily, without apology.
MYTH #1: Most people feel sexually confident.
TRUTH: Most people are nervous about sex.
It may not seem that way, but it’s true. People carry all kinds of things into the bedroom — body image worries, limited experience, past trauma, shame they were raised with. Many quietly believe these things disqualify them from being good lovers. What they don’t realize is that sex isn’t really about performance. It’s about showing up in an intimate moment and connecting openly with another person. That’s it.
MYTH #2: You need sexual confidence to be a good lover.
TRUTH: Sexual confidence is overrated — and it’s not really about you anyway.
The Pride Issue The Pride Issue
Here’s something that might reframe this for you: the most important thing your confidence does is create safety for your partner. That’s right. When you’re with someone who seems at ease, you relax. You feel comfortable saying what you want. You get out of your head and into the moment. Your confidence is a gift you give to the other person — which means it’s less about performing and more about showing up with care and openness.
MYTH #3: Lots of sexual experience is required to be sexually confident.
TRUTH: Openness, presence, and genuine responsiveness are what make a good lover.
When you allow yourself to be vulnerable with a partner — sharing what you want, staying curious about what they want, and really connecting — that’s what people remember. Experience helps, but it’s not the foundation. Presence is.
And here’s the thing: you’ve already been doing this. You raised a child, built a life, and kept your heart open enough to be sitting here, ready to try again. That’s not nothing — that’s actually everything. The warmth and self-awareness you bring to this question are exactly the qualities that will carry you into the bedroom with more grace than you know.
You’ve got this.
Xoxo,
Dr. Jane
—Dr. Jane Guyn (she/her) is a wellknown relationship coach who received her Ph.D. in Human Sexuality and is trained as a Professional Sex Coach and Core Energy Coach. Send her your questions at thesource@drjaneguyn.com.
By Nathan Powers Engel Volkers Bend
TAKE ME HOME Redmond Real Estate in 2026
As the calendar flips to May, we are officially more than one-third of the way through 2026, making it a great time to take a look at what has happened so far in the Redmond real estate market. To better understand where the market stands, we’ll compare this year’s numbers to the previous two years using several traditional metrics for residential properties, including single-family homes, townhomes, and condos. The statistics we’ll review are Homes Sold, Days on Market, Median Sale Price, Price Per Square Foot, and Percentage of Original List Price Received. All statistics are sourced from the local Flex MLS, are deemed reliable, but should be independently verified.
Homes Sold:
2026: 218 | 2025: 250 | 2024: 251
Currently, Redmond is trailing the previous two years in total sales volume, much of that due to a slower April. Sales in April were down 24% compared to 2025 and down 30% compared to 2024.
Median Sale Price:
2026: $482,000 | 2025: $532,500 | 2024: $524,000
Median Price Per Sq/Ft: 2026: $324 | 2025: $317 | 2024: $306
This is where the numbers begin to paint a clearer picture of what is happening in the Redmond market, and it closely mirrors trends we are also seeing in Bend. Typically, a $50,000 drop in median sale price would also lead to a lower price per square foot, but that has not been the case.
An easier way to illustrate this is through closed sales. Homes under $450,000 are up 41% from 2025, with 83 sales this year compared to 59 last year. Meanwhile, homes priced between $450,000 and $750,000 are down 34% year over year, with 107 sales this year compared to 163 last year. This shift
HOME PRICE ROUNDUP
toward more lower-priced sales is helping drive price per square foot higher while overall median sale prices trend downward.
Days on Market:
2026: 29 Days / 2025: 40 Days / 2024: 34 Days
Despite overall sales being down, days on market are at their lowest level since 2022. Well-priced homes are still moving quickly and helping drive those numbers down.
Homes priced above $750,000 are averaging 76 days on market this year. While that may still sound high, it is a major improvement from the 110-day average at this same time last year.
Percentage of Original List Price
Received:
2026: 96.7% | 2025: 97.5% | 2024: 98.1%
While Bend and much of Central Oregon have seen homes selling noticeably below asking price over the last two years, Redmond has largely been insulated from those shifts. However, the market has started to see small declines in percentage of original list price received over the past two years, as some homeowners are discovering that their homes may not be worth what they hoped they would be in today’s market.
The overall story of the Redmond market in 2026 is not necessarily one of decline, but rather one of adjustment. Buyers are still active, especially in more affordable price ranges, while higher price points are facing increased competition and longer market times. As always, pricing correctly and understanding current market conditions remain critical to achieving a successful sale.
—Nathan Powers is Director of Marketing/Business Development at Engel & Völkers Bend
ASTROLOGY
By Rob Brezsny
TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Soil biologists say a teaspoon of productive soil may contain billions of living organisms. These bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and nematodes work in cooperative networks, generating a hidden abundance that ensures everything above ground thrives. Your immediate future has this quality, Taurus. Beneath the visible surface of your life, beneficial processes are generating fertility and possibility. You don't need to see the miracle to trust it's happening. Your role is simply to have faith as you maintain the conditions that allow this mysterious abundance to do its work.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20): I suspect you would benefit from engaging with a friendly devil’s advocate or two in the coming weeks. Your clarity and understanding will deepen in just the right ways if you converse with affectionate skeptics who like and respect you but also want to help you grow. I realize that such people may be hard to find. If you can’t locate any, you could hire one. Or do the next best thing: Argue with yourself. Entertain lines of thought that are contrary to your usual ideas. Don’t let your habitual self get away with its usual rationalizations. The benefits of this exercise will be unpredictably huge.
CANCER (June 21-July 22): In the Northern Hemisphere, the North Star holds a fixed place in the sky. Also known as Polaris, or the Pole Star, it hangs in almost the same spot throughout the night while other stars rise and set. Because of this steadfast presence, it has long served as a trusted marker for navigation, especially for sailors at sea. Over time, it naturally came to represent an inner compass or a guiding ideal. In your own experience, Cancerian, what serves as your symbolic North Star? What’s the steady, orienting force that helps you decide where and how to move next? Now is an auspicious moment to tend to and revitalize your bond with this central source of direction.
ing chimpanzees reconcile with each other after enduring discord. He was fascinated by how they rebuilt trust through elaborate rituals of appeasement, grooming, and kind gestures. Once the chimps stopped fighting, he marveled, they actively repaired their connection, which often emerged stronger than it was before the dispute. I hope you will borrow their primate wisdom in the coming weeks, Scorpio. Do your best to navigate through conflict or alienation, and then instigate generous acts of rebonding. Don’t sulk, be evasive, or go silent. Be creative as you work to replenish what was damaged. The renewed relationship could be closer for having weathered the difficulties.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): The wandering albatross harnesses the wind, enabling it to travel vast distances with minimal effort. There’s an initial effort that leads to big energy savings. The bird climbs into strong winds and then relaxes as it gets transported, surfing the air currents. I mention this, Sagittarius, because I suspect you've been trying too hard and working too much—unnecessarily so. Less strenuous exertion, more gliding, please! Ask yourself what flows are already streaming in your favor. Could you catch a ride on existing momentum? Here’s my advice: Figure out where life’s tides are already moving, then position yourself to get carried along.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): In the mid 1950s, researchers developed reliable methods for creating synthetic diamonds in the laboratory. Since then, advances in technology have made it possible to grow large, high quality diamonds from small seed crystals in a relatively short time. I invite you to make this one of your operative metaphors, Leo. In the coming weeks, the forces of destiny will align with your efforts if you experiment with nurturing and expanding the parts of your life that are most like a diamond. Facilitate the development of your valuable beauty.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Scientist Stuart Kauffman theorizes that living systems are healthiest when they operate near the “edge of chaos.” There’s a critical zone between rigid order and unstructured randomness where complexity and adaptability can flourish. Too much organization creates brittle stiffness, while excessive chaos prevents coherence. Life thrives when it has some of both. I invite you to ruminate on these themes in the coming weeks, Virgo. According to my edgy analysis of the astrological omens, you’re being invited to cultivate and foster your own personal “edge of chaos” territory. Your interesting task is to create sweet spots where structure and spontaneity synergize. Locate these happy places and abide there for a while.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Choose two small and specific ways you’re going to stop pretending. One example might be how you respond when someone asks how you’re doing. Another may be an opinion you’ve been softening to keep the peace. Or maybe there’s a desire you’ve been downplaying because it feels impractical or too revealing. Here’s the name of this experiment: Incremental Precision Liberation. The key is to do it casually, with no melodrama or self-consciousness. If it’s successful, you could try another round in two weeks.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Scorpio primatologist Frans de Waal devoted years to watch -
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19): Ethnomusicologists studying throat singing know that Tuvan singers can produce two or more tones simultaneously. The human voice, it turns out, has the ability to harmonize with itself. Most of us never discover this because we never try. What other multidimensional capacities are you not using because you've never investigated them or tested their limits, Capricorn? The coming weeks are ideal for experimentation. What unexpected capacities might you get access to if you explored possibilities you've assumed were beyond you? You may be able to develop aptitudes and acquire gifts you haven’t discovered yet.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Cartographer Gerardus Mercator created his famous world map in 1569, enabling sailors to plot straight-line courses across oceans. But his technique dramatically distorts the size of landmasses. Greenland appears larger than Africa, when in reality Africa is 14 times bigger. And the truth is that every map privileges certain truths while distorting others. This is a key teaching for you right now, Aquarius. Examine the mental maps you're using to navigate your life. Might they be hiding or warping reality in any way? Consider whether you would benefit from redrawing your inner visualizations of the wide, wild world out there.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Perfectionism has increased dramatically in recent decades. Young people are especially affected. But here's the twist: The compulsion for perfection rarely improves performance. It’s more likely to undermine achievement by triggering paralysis and excessive self-criticism. Now is a favorable time for you Pisceans to rebel against the trend. I encourage you to cultivate a relaxed devotion to being "good enough” as you enjoy yourself thoroughly. Do you know the difference between cheerfully seeking excellence and grimly striving for perfection? Move away from what demands your obsessive rigor and focus on what requires soulful completion.
ARIES (March 21-April 19): When naturalist John Muir wanted to experience a storm, he climbed to the top of a 100-foot Douglas fir and rode it for hours through gale-force winds. He later reflected that the danger, in his judgment, was “hardly greater” than staying under a roof, and that the exhilaration and sensory richness justified his experiment. I’m not counseling you to be exactly like Muir in the coming weeks, Aries. Please don’t take foolish risks. However, I would love you to explore what truths are available when you put yourself in the path of intensity.
Homework: Imagine you’ve time-traveled to a favorite place in the year 2035. What do you see? (Read my newsletter: https://is.gd/PlsE70)
By Brendan Emmett Quigley
Pearl’s Puzzle
Puzzle for the week of May 11, 2026
a Middle East conflict
58 Where you might place a sock
Fill in every row, column, and 3x3 box with each of the letters A D O R E L I N T exactly once.
The highlighted letters read left to right and top to bottom will complete the quote: “If all the girls who attended the Yale prom were , I wouldn't be a bit surprised.” - Dorothy Parker
